La Zuma ZOOMS!

She may've been big odds but La Zuma won like a short priced favourite at her debut at Ballarat on Thursday - the exciting daughter of Zabeel giving her rivals a start before charging home out wide.

Drawing clear over the final stages of the 1200m maiden, the promising bay had 3 1/2 lengths to spare on her rivals on the line.

"She quickened really well," said jockey Luke Currie, adding that "she is going to make into a nice staying type."

"She still has got a bit to learn," he continued - "she can be a bit fizzy and early on she wanted to look around a bit. But she is definitely city class."

At least that we are hoping, La Zuma one of our team of fillies heading towards the VRC Oaks - a race we won two years ago with Brazilian Pulse.

"She is a pretty nice filly," said stable foreman Matt Hoysted - "we have always had a bit of a wrap on her."

Typical of Zabeel fillies, La Zuma has been a bit "hot" - "she always wants to do everything at a million miles an hour," Hoysted said, "but she showed today that she is a bit above average."

Raced by Ballymore Stables, the GG Syndicate (manager Gerard Peterson), Lib Petagna and Ken Millar, La Zuma fetched $230,000 at last year's Easter Sale - Paul Moroney recalling that he was immediately smitten!

"I fell in love with her," he said, "off-set knees and all! She was the most athletic filly at the sale and one of the best walkers I've ever laid eyes on."

Bred by Letmar Investments, La Zuma is out of the city winning Anabaa mare Countess Chloe - granddaughter of the wonderful Gr.3 winner broodmare Eau De'Etoile.

This is one of Australia's finest families, one which has produced the globe-trotting multiple Gr.1 winning sprinter Ortensia, the Golden Slipper heroine Bint Marscay, the VRC Derby winner Benicio and the big race winners Filante, Bollinger, Kenny's Best Pal and Stella Cadente.

Interestingly La Zuma is bred on a close 2 X 4 cross of Sir Tristram. She is pictured here as a yearling at Easter.