Ballybay well-posied for hat-trick at Blenheim
Ballybay is a dab hand over the shorter distances and he looks well-placed to complete a hat-trick of victories when he runs at the Marlborough meeting today.
The six-year- old has been in excellent touch this preparation and he should prove hard to hold out in the Burkhart Fisheries Handicap.
‘‘He’s found his form again and the way he’s been going he should be pretty competitive again,’’ trainer Shane Brown said.
‘‘He’s travelled down well and he is a genuine 1000 metre specialist.’’
Ballybay has won his last two starts over the trip at Tauherenikau and at Trentham, both times in the hands of Lisa Allpress who takes the reins again.
Brown didn’t nominate the gelding for the second day of the Marlborough meeting, instead having an eye on a return to Wellington.
‘‘He’s not the type to back up and he’s qualified for the Winter Championship at Trentham in three weeks’ time so he’ll probably have a crack at that,’’ Brown said.
He also has the two-year- old Beltoy in Friday’s Lee & Laurie Wilde Maiden and a bold showing wouldn’t surprise.
She was out of the money when resuming last time out at Otaki, but the Per Incanto filly had an excuse.
‘‘She was badly in season and performed terribly. She just wasn’t herself, but she has been working well and she can go a cheeky race,’’ Brown said.
Meanwhile, stakes performer She Knows will end her current campaign in the Vertigo Catering @ HB Racing Handicap at Hastings tomorrow.
‘‘She’ll go to the paddock win, lose or draw after that,’’ Brown said.
She Knows added an allimportant black type credit to her record this season when she finished runner-up in the Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes behind the subsequent Group One winner Charmont..