The first runner for Lovatsville’s first season sire Fierce Impact is now a winner after promising filly Zelia scored at Riccarton on Saturday.
Having announced herself to the world in September when winning her first trial by 15 lengths she found a Heavy 10 track too much when beaten on debut, however with a firmer surface this time she was too strong.
Ridden by Leah Hemi, the David Walsh trained two-year-old beat Best Rose (Maurice) by a head with Fourofus (Tivaci) third.
She is the only runner so far for Japanese bred Deep Impact stallion Fierce Impact who started his career in the UK but found his peak later in life when coming to Australia and proving one of our elite milers, winning the Group I Cantala, Toorak and Makybe Diva, all at the distance, subsequently being crowned Australia’s Champion Middle Distance horse in 2020.
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Zelia is the second foal of Shooting To Win mare Kakariko Village, a half-sister to Group I winner Bonham. Her fourth dam is Australasia’s top filly of 1997, Danendri, an AJC Oaks winner, and the family also includes VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume.
She was an $11,000 purchase at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale from Fairview Park in 2023.
Kakariko Village has another yearling filly by Fierce Impact and she returned to him again last season.
