by Michael Burns

TNT Stud homebred Princess Zuca rallied in time to capture the Grande Premio Zelia Gonzaga Peixoto de Castro (Brz-G1), the third leg of Rio de Janeiro's Triple Crown for fillies, on Sunday at Hipodromo La Gavea. 

Under a timely ride by Tiago Josue Pereira, the Southern Hemisphere three-year-old Dubai Dust filly closed from the far outside to nip runner-up Sensibilidade by a head in the final strides.

Haras Santa Maria de Araras homebred Rainbow Bright finished a close third in a blanket finish.

Conditioned by Venancio Nahid, Princess Zuca covered 2,400 meters (11.93 furlongs) on turf rated as soft in 2:31.12 to earn her first stakes victory and her second win in nine starts for prominent South American owner-breeder Goncalo Torrealba.

Princess Zuca was unplaced in the first two legs of the Triple Crown series.

Princess Zuca is out of the Stud TNT homebred Baby Rafaela, by Beau Genius. She is half sister to 2007 Grande Premio Diana (Brz-G1) (Brazilian Oaks) winner Immortelle (Brz), runner-up in the '08 Santa Ana Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita Park.

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent