Norzita has added a second Group One win to her record with a hard-fought victory in the $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Coming from seventh in running, the Bart Cummings-trained filly strode into the race on straightening and looked set for an easy win.
But jockey Hugh Bowman admitted Norzita had to work harder than he expected to secure his second Group One win on the filly.
“I feel she wanted to idle a bit in front but she was strong late and she’s a class above this lot,” Bowman said.
Norzita won the Flight Stakes from Longportduring the spring and the quinella result was the same on Saturday with Nathan Tinkler’s filly stretching her rival until the last 100m of the race.
New Zealand filly Habibi had her first taste of Australian racing with her third placing.
“We’ll take that. That was dominant enough for us and we are switching back to the 1600 metres (of the Doncaster). i am sure Bart will be tinkled pink,” stable foreman James Cummings said of Norzita.
Norzita is expected to have her next start against older horses in the $2 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 20.