Rainbiel reigns supreme as Flemington run beckons
RAINBIEL added black type to her pedigree in the Listed Bennett Racing Black Pearl Stakes on Wednesday, in a performance that could see her look towards a run up the Flemington straight in Melbourne Cup week.
Linda Meech rode Rainbiel perfectly and ensured the chasing pack behind her had no chance of catching the Anthony Chibnall-trained mare, with stable spokeswoman Nadine Wertz saying the team put all of its faith in
Meech to get the job done.
“Linda came out and I asked if she had a plan and she said, ‘no’. I said just ride her how the gates open and she took the initiative and went straight to the front and put them away,” Wertz said.
“This prep she’s been a lot more adaptable. She can lead or she can sit back and she’s just proven today that, I think, she’s a pretty nice filly and she’s versatile.
“This prep she has really grown. I think the trip back to Adelaide really helped her, it has just made her a better racehorse and she’s really come back well this time.
“(Tony) was talking about a mares race down the (Flemington) straight but we’ll take her home and have a look.”
In other races on Wednesday at Geelong Legend Of Zorro gave Patrick Moloney a double in the final run of the day following his earlier win in the Dual Choice Plate, while favourites Nobel Heights and Vitruvius gave punters the perfect start in the opening two races of the day.
The biggest upset of the day came in race four when Leopold trainer Simone Ferchie saddled up Aerovictory at $23 odds and won.
Winning jockey Brian Park said the eight-year-old gelding had come to win.
“Every time he comes here he seems to run his best races,” Park said.
“I thought he had the task ahead of him today with a pretty reasonable field and he really had to be on his A-game today. He was lively when I got on him and I thought he was here to win.
“He jumped out and I was positive, he crossed them pretty easily and came back under me, got a bit of a breather and took off when we straightened up and kicked good. He was never going to get beaten up the straight.”