by Tom Musgrave

Il Quello Veloce closed with a furious rush from near the back of the field to win the $159,320 Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (NZ-G1) by 2 1/4 lengths on Saturday at Awapuni.

The two-year-old chestnut Captain Rio filly was rated comfortably near the back of the 16-horse field in the 1,400-meter (6.96-furlong) turf race. Jockey Noel Harris swung her to the outside entering the stretch, and she unleashed a determined rally to post the clear victory in 1:22.88 on turf rated as good.

Il Quello Veloce, who earned her first win, scored a runner-up finish in the Robin, Duke of Bedford Breeders' Stakes (NZ-G2) on February 23 and a third-place finish in the Ford Diamond Stakes (NZ-G1) on March 8.

Group 2 winner Captain Fantastic finished second, a head in front of stakes winner San Bernardino.

Harris, who had been winless with his mounts for the past three weeks, said he took few chances with Flying Fillies Syndiacte's Il Quello Veloce.

"I just said to myself, 'I'm going to keep her out of trouble,'" Harris told the New Zealand Press Association.

"I dedicate that [win] to myself," Harris said after snapping his losing streak. "I've been so patient."

Trained by John Sargent, Il Quello Veloce is out of the Gold Brose mare Nishaani. She was bred in New Zealand by Westbury Stud.

Tom Musgrave is internet content editor of Thoroughbred Times