A flying finish saw Rasa Lila (Darci Brahma x Dance My Dance) win the $25,000 Metro Direct Inspirations In Glass 1600 at Taranaki on Saturday.

Rasa Lila has had a stellar season to date with trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, recording her second win from six starts this season with a further three placings. The four-year-old mare began her racing career in Australia’s David Hayes stable as a three-year-old before relocating to see her first start in New Zealand this campaign.

It was jockey Darryl Bradley’s first association with the race-favourite, Rasa Lila, as the pair started from barrier 1. The field settled into a steady tempo with Rasa Lila on the inside towards the tail of the field.

Approaching the corner, Bradley pulled the Darci Brahma mare away from the rail into the centre of the track to sit three-wide. With the field straightening for home Rasa Lila made a bid for home, sprinting away from the field to claim victory by two-lengths. Running in to second place was Skychi (NZ) (Citi Habit) and Dorian Grey (NZ) (Postponed) finished in third place.

Saturday’s win has now earned Rasa Lila $69,052 for owner Sir Peter Vela who bred the mare with Philip Vela.

Rasa Lila is out of unraced Dance My Dance (Sadler’s Wells), already the dam of Group 3 winner Posavina (Tiger Hill). Second dam, Tis Juliet (Alydar), was the Group 1 Belmont Shuvee Handicap in the USA. Dance My Dance foaled a colt in 2014 by leading Australian sire Snitzel.