"She had the good draw today and if she had drawn a gate she would have won
last week as well," said Innes referring to Rasa Lila's closing third behind
Sound Proposition in the Gr.1 Easter Stakes."Today I was able to get her into the race and she was travelling well all the way. She won it easily.
"She's a good mare and I'm glad they decided to run her. They were talking of turning her out after last week, but I said please give her one more."
A daughter of Darci Brahma, Rasa Lila settled midfield for Innes and was travelling like the winner a long way from home.
Once Innes asked for her supreme effort, Rasa Lila raced clear to win by three lengths from Abidewithme, who wound-up late when attempting to defend her Travis Stakes crown.
News of Rasa Lila's win was relayed to her co-breeder and owner Sir Peter Vela in England.
"Sir Peter will be thrilled," said co-trainer Steven Ramsay.
"We won this race with Dolmabache (2012) and it's great to win it again. It was a peach of a ride from Leith."
Rasa Lila took her record to seven wins from 26 starts with her break-through Group Two success adding to her residual value as a broodmare.
"She'll go out for a spell and come back for the Hawke's Bay Spring Carnival," said Garry Cossey, racing manager for Sir Peter Vela. "She will be set for the Group Ones over 1600 and 2000-metres."
"She may visit a stallion in Spring then race on a bit longer."
While Rasa Lila was well clear of her rivals, there was only a nose that separated runner-up Abidewithme and Gesemi, while Thee Auld Floozie was a further nose away in fourth.
The performance of Gesemi was a pleasant surprise for co-trainer Andrew Forsman.
"I thought the track might be too good for her," said Forsman. "It was a nice run and we will now look at the Rotorua Cup." – NZ Racing Desk
