Irish mare shows staying qualities

What a special thrill to see our Irish-bred mare Terra Mitica open her New Zealand account at Pukekohe.The well-related daughter of Ulysees, a Group 1-winning son of Galileo, was making her third appearance from Lance Noble’s stable when she was successful over 2100 metres in the hands of Craig Grylls.Terra Mitica had finished a strong third in her 1400 metres debut here and while then unplaced in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes over 1500 metres, she was doing her best work late in the piece.“She’s been heading in the right direction and probably still learning and getting used to the Australasian style of racing,” Noble said.“She’s bred to stay, both of her wins in the UK were over 2000 metres, and this looked a really nice race for her.”Terra Mitica lobbed along in third spot before taking control 350 metres from home and cruised clear to score with authority.The five-year-old, a 100,000gns (about $202,000) purchase at last year’s Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale, is out of the G3 Belmont Intercontinental Stakes winner Mississippi Delta who is an American-bred daughter of Giant’s Causeway.She boasts a strong Northern American pedigree with an abundance of black type winners, including the three-time Group 1 winner and sire Behrens.