Sofia Rosa is not very statuesque but she has a big heart and clearly possesses sublime mental strength in that nothing seems to faze the filly. She fell on the home turn at this very track on Boxing Day yet comes out here on New Years Day at G2 over 2000m and outclasses her opposition after settling down last. Sofia Rose swept around wide near the home turn and despite bumping with a rival and losing her footing the momentary gasp of surely she is not going to fall again at the 400m didn’t eventuate thankfully. She was laying in the run home but took the front at the 200m and was a class above. It was her third win in seven starts and a first Group success. The toughness award of the season is hers to lose as it will take some effort to beat from a clipped heel ahead and fall at G2 to a G2 win a week later at the same venue. Downton Abbey gained valuable blacktype with her second after racing fifth or sixth and coming forward wide near the home turn. She is by Tavistock and they really love wet tracks. Megawatt fought well for third after racing handy the outer and had just cleared maidens prior so to get a G2 placing is big for her broodmare and family future. Fame Seeker boxed on as did Valley Girl with the latter coming too close in the run home and likely got anchored in the slower lanes. Strada Cavallo leading over 2000m did not suit and she is better left-handed and if she does not go as keen. Her G1 placing came as a closer from back on the inner and saved for one surge at them. Cool Tart was just fair but has been disappointing overall in her last two outings. The rest were well beaten in the conditions. This was like the G3 juvenile winner earlier in the day that no matter what the footing the same winner would have occurred. However the overall result is skewed by the biased and clearly holding footing and the way too limited fair zones found in the run home.