Bavella (AUS) 2 f Snitzel – Zonza by Zabeel

Bavella (Snitzel), a recent trial winner, won with plenty in hand on debut at Ellerslie on Friday. She sped through after a slightly tardy start to sit outside the lead at the 600 metres before taking over in the straight at the 400 metre mark, where she was stargazing and seemed a little lost. Jockey Leith Innes got her to focus and with a few shakes and a slap down the shoulder, Bavella settled down to her work. She went to the line in a business-like manner and Innes was able to let the pressure off near the post when a length and a quarter clear.

Bavella, not offered for sale, is the only foal to race out of the stakes winner Zonza (Zabeel) and dons the colours of Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay, as did her dam. Zonza won five times, including the 2013 running of the Ladies Day Vase (Gr 3, 1600m), while she was also twice stakes-placed and finished fourth in the Spring Classic (Gr 1, 2040m).

Zonza’s first foal, Mamarella (Pins), has yet to race, while she has a yearling filly by More Than Ready (Southern Halo) and was covered by Tavistock (Montjeu) in 2017.

Bavella’s fourth dam, Trajana (Troy), is a half-sister to Santa Quilla (Sanctus), grandam of the champion mare Miesque (Nureyev). Champion Two-Year-Old Fillies Rumplestiltskin (Danehill), a grand-daughter of Miesque as well as Six Perfections (Celtic Swing) are also members of this family.