The younger sibling of dual Group Three winner Eleonora and four-win mare
Sopraffina had finished well back at Taupo on debut after a tardy start extinguished
any winning chances she may have had. The headstrong Savabeel filly was on her best behaviour this time though as she bounced nicely from an inside barrier to settle handily behind the early pace for rider Cameron Lammas.
Lammas angled Supera off the fence at the 300m mark to issue a strong challenge to pacemaker Walkin' By before drawing clear to win comfortably by two lengths from race favourite Beauden in the maiden 1200m contest.
Co-trainer Ken Kelso, who prepares Supera at Matamata with wife Bev, was pleased at the reversal of fortunes for the filly who he admitted could be quite a handful off the track.
"She got a bit wound up at Taupo with everything that was going on and played up badly in the barrier," he said.
"She didn't have a lot of luck in the straight either where she got held up a bit.
"She's a filly that has taken a lot of making as she's hard work but has always had a lot of ability.
"She gets herself in a bit of a tiz, but she's got it so once she's had a few starts I think she will settle down."
Rider Cameron Lammas was of a similar opinion, especially about the cantankerous nature of the filly.
"I think I earnt my riding fee getting her down to the start," he said.
"She jumped well although I used her up a little to get a position. Once I asked her she just went whoosh.
"I think she's going to develop into a nice horse."
Bred and raced by Sir Peter Vela, Supera is a grand-daughter of his dual Caulfield and Melbourne winner Ethereal. – NZ Racing Desk
