Aloisia impressive in Australian debut

Former New Zealand filly Aloisia has made an impressive start to her Australian career with victory at Flemington.

Now in the care of Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher, Aloisia took out the Saintly Hall of Fame Trophy (1400m) on Saturday and may now head to Brisbane in search of black type.

Ridden by Michael Dee, Aloisia drifted in the betting from $9 to $16 before scoring a three-quarter length win from Salsamor ($19), with Grunt ($26) a neck away third.

OTI Racing’s manager Terry Henderson said the daughter of Azamour was purchased in New Zealand as a potential spring three-year-old with an emphasis on the VRC Oaks.

Aloisia won a trial at Cranbourne earlier in the month but Henderson was expecting the filly may need more ground.

“We don’t find many two-year-olds over there, we usually wait a little longer but we were keeping an eye on her and she came along,” Henderson said.

“When she trialled so well all the loyal guys took a piece so it’s great for her to win for our existing clients.”

Henderson said Aloisia may now head to Queensland for the Group One J J Atkins at Eagle Farm next month.

Dee suggested there was plenty of upside in the filly and was impressed with the victory.

“She’s still got a lot of growing to do and will get further in the future,” Dee said.

“The way she took a gap, the way she sprinted and put them away; it was impressive.”