Master trainer Bart Cummings unleashed rising three-year-old filly Norzita (NZ) at Rosehill on Saturday in her second raceday outing and she won the $85,000, Woolworths Handicap (1300m) under Glyn Schofield with the greatest of ease.
Norzita (NZ) and Glyn Schofield, picture Sportix.com.au
It was Norzita’s second race appearance after a fifth at Gosford on debut over 1200m on July 4th and her entrance to the track was delayed after she was reshod in the mounting yard which could well have been unsettling for just her second start.
Norzita took the disruption in her stride and she left barrier seven well for Schofield settling in sixth racing one out from the rails. Up at the front of the field Outback Prince and Brenton Avdulla led the way at a good pace with Dormello, Tommy Berry, and National Treasure and Corey Brown following.
At the 400m Schofield was four wide on Norzita with Seaside and Kerrin McEvoy inside. There was bumping between the two as they levelled up with 300m to run, and once again Norzita was not put off by the disruption.
Schofield was racing true to his line and not allowing the $2.30 NSW TAB favourite Seaside out, while second $4.10 favourite Grand Business and Hugh Bowman were racing behind the front runners waiting for a gap.
With 200m to run Norzita was a half-length in front and from that point she put the issue beyond doubt going away well to win by 1 1/4L.
Seaside (Redoute’s Choice) was second with Clever Boy (Street Sense) and Nash Rawiller third, the margin 1/2L. Grand Business was out late for fourth.
The time was 1.19.24 on the Slow 6 track with the final 600m in 35.98.
Norzita had opened up at $26 when markets were released on Wednesday, but a late rally in betting on Saturday saw the filly crunched into $10 on TAB Sportsbet fixed odds, with bets of $1,000 @ $12, $1,000 @ $11 and $1,000 @ $10 all coming in the final few minutes prior to jump time. She paid $11.40 on NSW TAB tote.
Norzita is owned by Dato Tan Chin Nam and the Westcode Syndicate managed by TA Yahaya. Duncan Ramage, bloodstock manager for Dato Tan Chin Nam, commented after the race that the Thorn Park filly had always shown ability.
“We see how she pulls up, but it would be nice to give her another run as some of the better races appear in three weeks’ time, if she holds up, to give her a chance in the lower grade better races,” said Ramage.
“Then we will probably tip her out, but Bart will call the shots and lets not bottom her too early,” he said.
“She is a nice filly,” declared stable foreman Ray King, “There was a bit of a drama early on but she seemed to handle herself pretty good. We have noticed she has had plenty of ability from the start and she has shown it today.”
“Just looking at her for the first time, what a beautiful filly,” said Schofield.
“Obviously the ‘old man’ has not lost his touch and while he has been a little bit quiet I think they are going to have a little bit of fun with this one.
“I was one off the fence and only opted to come out once I was going a lot quicker than they were and I was trying to slow her down. She was really green in her first effort but she has taken a lot of improvement from that and she won convincingly today, and will take further improvement again,” he said.
Ramage signed for Norzita, who was bred by Mark and Sarah Devcich out of the Quest For Fame mare Visique, at $200,000 out of the draft Windsor Park at the 2011 NZ Bloodstock Ltd’s Premier Sale at Karaka.
She earned $48,750 for Saturday’s metropolitan win and takes away a potentially very bright future for the new season.
The win was the second for the day for the Cummings stable after the rising four-year-old stayer Dragonzone won over 2000m at Kembla Grange for a maiden win.
Norzita (NZ), picture Sportpix.com.au
Picture ATC