A Queensland winter campaign awaits New Zealand mare Veloce Bella after she silenced her critics with victory in the Group Two Travis Stakes at Te Rapa.Saturday's 2000m weight-for-age race was Veloce Bella's first win for 19 months.In that time she had endured a tendon injury and more recently had been frustrating punters with a tendency to slow starts.Those factors made the Te Rapa win all the more sweet for trainer Mark Brosnan."It was great to see her back in winning form," Brosnan told NZPA.

A Queensland winter campaign awaits New Zealand mare Veloce Bella after she silenced her critics with victory in the Group Two Travis Stakes at Te Rapa.

Saturday's 2000m weight-for-age race was Veloce Bella's first win for 19 months.

In that time she had endured a tendon injury and more recently had been frustrating punters with a tendency to slow starts.

Those factors made the Te Rapa win all the more sweet for trainer Mark Brosnan.

"It was great to see her back in winning form," Brosnan told NZPA.

"A lot of people, the press included, have been writing her off."

Veloce Bella suffered a tendon injury in 2007 which Brosnan said was serious enough to have him thinking it could end her racing career.

"I did think it could well have been," he said.

She was confined to her stable and a small yard for two months and it was a total of 13 months before she returned to racing.

Brosnan said the tendon injury had not caused further concern.

"Fortunately we've had no problems with her legs, we've just had other problems," he said in reference to the slow starts she had been making.

That all stemmed from a barrier mishap in the Anniversary Handicap at Trentham in January.

"From that day onwards she didn't want to jump," Brosnan said.

But despite losing many lengths at the start Veloce Bella still managed third placings in the Group One International Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in February and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha this month.

Brosnan said it was just a matter of time for Veloce Bella to regain her confidence and she began on terms with the rest of the field on Saturday.

She still settled well back in the running but the $5.10 second favourite swept down the middle of the track in the home straight to beat the favourite Culminate by three-quarters of a length on a dead rated track.

Brosnan is keen to send Veloce Bella to Brisbane for the likes of the Doomben Cup (2020m) on May 16 and the Brisbane Cup (2400m) on June 6.

NZPA WGT