Annie Higgins set up a classic encounter with top filly King’s Rose in the NZ Oaks after scoring a gutsy victory in the LR Sunline Vase (2100m) at Auckland on Wednesday.

Annie Higgins (3f O’Reilly – Diva Belle by Carnegie) was trapped wide in the final lead-up to the NZ Oaks (2400m), nevertheless, she kept digging to defeat Chennai (Towkay) and Run To The Bank (Bahhare) by over a length.

King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice) has a 3-0 record over Annie Higgins but trainer Lance Noble believes his filly could have the staying edge next time they meet at Trentham on March 19.  “King’s Rose is brilliant but mine’s a genuine stayer,” he explained.  “I’m looking forward to having another crack.”

Annie Higgins is a homebred for Marie Leicester and is the last surviving descendant of NZ Filly of the Year Tri Belle.  

Leicester had catalogued Annie Higgins for the 2009 NZ Bloodstock yearling sale but was forced to withdraw the filly shortly after her dam Diva Belle and an O’Reilly foal died.

Diva Belle was an unraced daughter of Tri Belle (Sir Tristram) who claimed 6 of her 11 wins at Ellerslie.  She won the G1 Flag Inns Trophy at the Auckland venue and was voted NZ Filly of the Year in 1987.

Waikato Stud sire O’Reilly started the week with a G1 at Flemington courtesy of Shamrocker in the Australian Guineas.  His tough gelding Guyno added more black-type in the G3 Lord Reims Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday and he will be one of the favourites for the G2 Adelaide Cup next Monday.