Bargain Bella’s gold rush
ADELAIDE trainer Will Clarken has achieved a milestone first Group One win with bargain-buy Bella Vella, who has capped a stunning rise in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville.
Bella Vella was bought online for $22,500 last year and has won six of her 11 starts since joining Clarken’s stable last year, with yesterday’s
Group One clearly the highlight.
Giving jockey Todd Pannell his second career Group One win after last year’s Goodwood on Despatch, the speedy Bella Vella stretched out to 1200m and held off a late charge by last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre to score by a half-neck.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Bam’s On Fire was another 1¾ lengths away third, while her stablemate, two-year-old filly Away Game, finished fifth in her bid for a historic win in the race against the older fillies and mares.
“David Jolly actually found her and some of my owners were looking at her as well so we put a syndicate together and bought her,” Clarken said.
“Obviously it’s a fairytale story now.”
Bella Vella had previously been sent to the breeding barn but did not get in foal to Criterion and was later offered for sale online and snapped up by her new connections.
Clarken said his first Group One win was “very, very special”, especially with some friends and long-time supporters in the ownership and with Pannell aboard.
“I’ve had lots of runners in
SHROUDED In Mist has exceeded her trainer Tony McEvoy’s expectations with an upset front-running win in the Queen Of The South Stakes in Adelaide.
McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his son Calvin, admits Shrouded In Mist’s owner was the one who was keen for the fiveyear-old to run in yesterday’s Group Two race for fillies and mares at Morphettville. The decision paid off.
After McEvoy notified stewards of a change in tactics with the intention to lead, Shrouded In Mist ($21) was able to dictate terms in front under Barend Vorster before holding her rivals at bay in the straight to claim her sixth victory from 29 starts but, importantly, her first stakes win.
Shrouded In Mist defeated Seabrook ($4.40) by 1¼ lengths, with Fidelia another 2½ lengths away third.
The mare won first-up this campaign in a benchmark race in Adelaide but
Group Ones and I suppose you’ve just got to keep rolling the marble,” he said.
“Today she got left alone in front.
“She’s been in super form and things went our way.”
Bella Vella’s overall record now sits at nine wins from 28 starts and Clarken said she would not press on to The Goodwood in two weeks but would be given a break with a view to the Group One Moir finished second-last in her past two starts.
“I’m a bit surprised,” McEvoy said. “I didn’t quite think this mare was in the right form.”
He thanked the mare’s owner Peter Katelanis for pushing to run Shrouded In Mist.
“She didn’t have the form, I didn’t believe, to go to this race and I was a bit keen to run her in a lesser race today. But he was very strong and I thank him very much now,” McEvoy said.
“He was keen to put her forward in the race and we went to the stewards. Even though she didn’t jump cleanly, Barend went on with that and she got quite an easy lead. It was a good effort.”
Earlier, Oceanex passed a distance test easily to win the Listed Port Adelaide Cup (2500m).
Oceanex, winner of the Group Two Matriarch Stakes last spring, was stepping beyond 2040m for the first time and sat just off leader Sopressa before going on to defeat her by 1¾ lengths.
Stakes (1000m) at The Valley in spring. Two of Bella Vella’s wins for Clarken have been in 955m sprints at The Valley.
“We’re just happy to get the win today,” Clarken said.
“Everything she had in her she gave to us.
“And I think she deserves the time now.”
Three-time Group One winner Sunlight started $3.20 favourite and raced on the pace but faded to finish last.