Gisella ridden by Luke Currie wins the Ballarat Volkswagen Fillies Maiden Plate at Sportsbet-Ballarat Racecourse on September 19, 2025 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos)
In a thrilling display of speed and stamina, promising filly Gisella stormed home to claim victory in the Ballarat Volkswagen Fillies Maiden Plate. The win marked a breakthrough moment for the three-year-old, who had shown glimpses of talent in her previous outings but finally delivered on her potential in front of an enthusiastic local crowd.
Gisella entered the race with two placings under her belt, including a strong third at Bendigo earlier this month. That performance hinted at her readiness to break her maiden, and she didn’t disappoint.
Jumping cleanly from barrier six, Gisella settled mid-pack under Luke Currie conserving energy as the early leaders set a brisk tempo. As the field rounded the final turn, she shifted gears, slicing through the pack with a powerful surge. In the final 200 metres, she outpaced rivals Catwalk Icon and Pomah to cross the line first, earning well-deserved applause from a happy group of connections.
The win not only secured Gisella her maiden title but also stamped her as one to watch in upcoming meets. Dan and Luke are both of the opinion she has the ability for longer races, so we’ve nominated her for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas on Caulfield Cup Day. It may be an ambitious plan at the moment, but we’ll kick ourselves if we don’t throw an entry in.
Congratulations to all her passionate owners!
Connections of Gisella after winning the Ballarat Volkswagen Fillies Maiden Plate at Sportsbet-Ballarat Racecourse on September 19, 2025 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos)
