2016 Centaurea Stakes result – Gabella powers home

French mare Gabella will be aimed at Group races in the Melbourne spring following her win in Saturday’s Listed Centaurea Stakes (2015m) at Morphettville.

Gabella ($3.20 fav) came with a determined challenge inside the final 300m to wear down stablemate Metaphorical ($8) and score by 1-1/2 lengths with the fast finishing Holy Cow ($11) a nose away third.

David Hayes, who prepares Gabella in partnership with Tom Dabernig, said he was expecting a big performance from the six-year-old, racing for the fourth time in Australia.

“We resisted running her at Flemington the other day to come here with the express purpose of winning a stakes race and we think she’s got a really big future,” Hayes, winning a city race for the 11th week in a row, said.

“It was a nice position to be in at the 200 (metres) wondering which one was going to win.”

Hayes said Gabella will now head to the spelling paddock ahead of spring preparation.

“She’ll go out now and we’ll look at those better mares races in the spring,” Hayes said.

“A race like the Matriarch at Flemington will suit her ideally and if she can find some cut in the ground she’s better again.”

 

Source: https://www.racenet.com.au/news/123199/2016-Centaurea-Stakes-result—Gabella-powers-home