Action from busy Clifford Park meet
RACING: Toowoomba filly Explosive Belle ($2.90 fav) wasted no time recouping her purchase price for connections when she zoomed to a smart debut win at Clifford Park yesterday.
Explosive Belle lived up to her name when she overcame a slow start to leave her rivals standing with a 4 1⁄2 length victory for apprentice Sally Sweeney in the Art & Soul Fillies and Mares Maiden Plate (1200m).
Hot Tempo (3.80) ran on fairly for second with Miss Marseille another 3 3⁄4 lengths back third.
Explosive Belle was a $2000 Magic Millions tried horse sale purchase and has shown Michael Nolan abundant ability since arriving at his stable.
“She is by Smart Missile out of a Listed winner and is raced by the same owners of Jumbo Prince,” Nolan said.
“She had two jump-outs coming into today and has been showing us plenty.
“The only little worry was the 1200 metres first-up.
“She is a hard filly to train with a bit of attitude but she did a good job today.”
Runaway Clifford Park premiership leader Ben
Currie passed a personal milestone when $1.60 favourite Smooch completed a comfortable victory in the Wippells Autos Fillies and Mares Class 1 Handicap (1000m).
Smooch picked up her second career win from five
outings when she downed resuming Deep Down ($17) by two lengths for jockey Josh Oliver.
The three-year-old’s victory pushed Currie past the 50-win mark for the Clifford Park season.
Currie holds a 30-win advantage over second-placed Michael Nolan with three months of the racing year still remaining.
Recent stable addition Layla’s Lad continued his good form for new trainer Jenny Dorrington with a
break-through victory in the Gainsborourgh Lodge Colts, Geldings and Entires Class 1 Handicap (1000m).
Layla’s Lad ($4.20) arrived for jockey Nozi Tomiawa to down Sir Bam ($3.80 fav) after his first-up second for Dorrington two weeks ago.