Australian Oaks on the agenda for New Zealand Guineas winner

NEW Zealand 1000 Guineas winner La Diosa is being set for a Group 1 ATC Oaks campaign which is likely to kick off with the Surround Stakes on February 25.

The Matt and Mandy Brown-trained filly has won four of its six starts which included a 1.5-length win in the Group 1 $300,000 New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton, and it will now head to Australia without having another run at home.

“We were going to give her a run at Auckland, but with the way things are with the roads after the earthquake we’ve decided to go straight to Sydney,” co-trainer Matt Brown said.

“She’ll probably have a trial here at the end of January and she’s booked on a flight on February 10.”

Its Australian debut will likely be the Group 2 Surround Stakes at Warwick Farm with Brown considering his options following that run leading into the ATC Oaks at Randwick during The Championships.

“Then there’s a couple of 2000 metre races, including the Adrian Knox Stakes at Randwick, as options before the Oaks,” Brown said.

Brown has decided that an Australian-based jockey will be taking the ride as South Island-based apprentice Racha Cuneen is searching for employment in Asia.

“We haven’t heard from any agents and we haven’t made any contact yet either,” said Brown.

“She will be ridden by an Australian jockey – we’ll just start at the top and work our way down.”

Brown and principal owner Terry Archer have been on a scouting mission to Sydney and Brown believes he has found a place for his emerging star by So You Think.

“We wanted to have a look around Randwick,” Brown said. “It’s pretty quiet at our place for her, but we’re happy to be staying at John Sargent’s place.

Brown is happy with how the three-year-old has worked since taking out the 1000 Guineas on November 12.

“She had a nice break after that and she’s been back for a couple of weeks,” Brown said.

“She’s doing some light pacework at this stage and she’s thriving.”

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