DONNA VIOLA, making her final appearance for Chris Wall, made the most of the absence of Timarida to record a battling win in the Grade One Yellow Ribbon Stakes (10f) on the turf at Santa Anita yesterday.
The progressive English filly, coming off wins in the Matron Stakes and the Prix de l'Opera, was given a peach of a ride by Gary Stevens, who was riding the raider for the first time.
After initially settling in fourth, Stevens got Gary Tanaka's acquisition home by half a length and a head from Real Connection and Dixie Pearl. Admise was close up in fourth.
Donna Viola now joins the stable of Ben Cecil, the nephew of Newmarket trainer Henry, in California. "How can I improve on that? It's going to be a tough act to follow," said Cecil.
Wall, in two minds about losing the filly, said: "It was big thrill to come all this way and win our first major Grade One. We've had Group One winners in Italy but this beats the lot.
"This filly has nothing but improve. She travelled very well. She is a tough customer that stayed on well. Gary Stevens gave her a great ride and answered his every call.
"We didn't have Timarida here, but even if she had run I think that we would have given her a run for her money. However, the programme is limited for fillies like her in Europe."
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