THOROUGHBRED

The Listed Mercedes - Benz Sunline Vase for the 3 year old fillies was taken out by ANNIE HIGGINS on Wednesday at Ellerslie.

By O'REILLY - DIVA BELLE she is trained by Lance Noble and was ridden by Opie Bosson. Sent out favorite she settled with four behind her early but there was no pace on and Bosson opted to go forward to be a handy fourth at the 800 meters, this proved to be a winning move as she was traveling well turning for home, took the lead at the 150 and went away to win comfortably by 1 1/2 lengths. They ran the last 600 meters in 34.03 CHENNAI was second with RUN TO THE BANK a nose away in third.

Lance Noble, " It's great, she's been very consistant all season and she really deserved this one, she ran that out very strongly and the Oak's is only 10 days away, she has backed up before so why not."

Oppie Bosson, " It was a good effort, we were caught a bit wide, had to do it hard from the half mile but they were going quite slow, we were quite lucky in the end to be right there when they quickened up at the 500 meter. She has raced against the best of them and has always been thereabouts and today with a bit of luck she unwound well."