Regular rider Michael Coleman considered Veloce Bella (6 B. M. Volksraad – Wave To Lottie, by Crested Wave) perfectly prepared in her freshened state before victory in the $17,000 SKYCITY Hamilton Casino Cup (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Aboard for almost a third of her starts, Coleman had ridden the Mark Brosnan-trained mare to victory over inform miler Run Like Al at her previous start over mile at Tauranga on January 9, and said the break between runs put a spring in her step.

“She was pretty bouncy today and she felt better than when she won at Tauranga the other day”, said Coleman, who had his charge career away in the straight for a brilliant three length victory.

“She feels as though she’s freshened up a little bit and that’s probably the way she goes best, I reckon. Sometimes if she has raced hard, she can feel a bit flat”, he said.

With the emphasis for the run by Veloce Bella being a lead up to the $200,000, Group I, Darci Brahma International Stakes, under weight-for-age conditions over 2000 metres at Te Rapa next Saturday, February 13, the pride and joy of the Case Lot Syndicate should be a cherry-ripe contender after the manner of her success.

With a perfectly timed drag out of midfield courtesy of eventual second placed Spectacular Icon, Veloce Bella challenged for the lead at the 250 metres under minimal urging and required little more as she sprinted clear.

While Six O’clock News in third and My Scotsgrey in fourth each encountered traffic problems when mounting a run, the performance by Veloce Bella was still something to behold.

The 2000 metres was covered in a very respectable time, 2:00.07.

Coleman said, “The nice speed up front suited her and I got a nice drag up from the 600, so it was good, and I was behind the right horse that took me into the race at the right time.”

Often seen powering home from back in the field, Veloce Bella was able to settle handier on this occasion.

“She gets so far back, she doesn’t help herself a lot, but she’s always raced in the top company and that’s what happens”, with Coleman adding, “she’s a good mare when she gets the right conditions on the day.”

Since commencing her current campaign six starts ago, when rushing home in a sprint at Te Rapa behind Richard Beymer, Veloce Bella has been racing very competitively.

Her trainer, Mark Brosnan, said, “We’ve always been happy with her in this campaign. She’s flying at the moment and she loves Te Rapa, too.”

It was her third success at the Hamilton course, and her ninth overall for earnings of $477,550.

Brosnan added, “She’s good on her day and hopefully she will be the same next week”, while suggesting she now needs a middle distance to acquit herself.

“Over a mile she just can’t foot it with them anymore. I’ve always known she’s got that class factor and she’s beaten the best when she’s right.”

As a three-year-old, Veloce Bella won the Avondale Guineas, the Eight Carat Classic and the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, all group two events, while also winning the group two Travis Stakes.

Blessed with a good draw, footing to match, and a genuine tempo, Veloce Bella has what it takes to force the issue for group one glory in the Darci Brahma.