Rosa looking very rosy for Makfi

Sofia Rosa, a three-year-old, trained by Stephen Marsh and bred at Westbury Stud out of the mare Bislieri, landed the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes at Hastings, teeing up a bid for the Gr.1 NZ Oaks at Trentham on March 19.

Under jockey Danielle Johnson the filly was settled in midfield before stretching clear to record her fourth win from eight starts.

Quoted by stuff.co.nz, Marsh said: "She will improve out of sight - she was probably 90 per cent right today - she was brilliant. It was a 10 out of 10 ride," while Johnson said: "She's improving race by race -she will get better and better with racing and maturity."

On her previous outing on New Year's Day Sofia Rosa won the Gr.2 Royal Stakes at Ellerslie, and has now earned nearly NZ$140,000 in prize-money for Lib Petagna's JML Bloodstock.

Qatar Bloodstock-owned filly Clemency was also in action earlier today, and duly landed her second race in succession for trainer Robert Smerdon.

Lining up at Sandown-Lakeside under Craig Williams, the four-year-old daughter of Redoute's Choice beat her eight rivals snugly in a handicap over 1,600m and could step up in trip next time. She has now won three times, and been placed in three races.

Geoffrey Faber, Qatar Bloodstock's representative in Australia, reported: "Clemency won well and it was a gutsy effort. She responded extremely well when asked and was a comfortable winner on the line. The target is to get black type."