Effortless win for Miss Balvenie
It was a case of saving the best until last when Miss Balvenie showed her rivals a clean pair of heels to claim an almost effortless win in a benchmark-64 race over the 1100-metre journey at Horsham on Saturday.
The Tom Dabernig-trained filly drew wide and was forced to retreat in the early stages, but jockey Robbie Downey played a cool hand and weaved a passage from the top of the home straight, only showing the persuader once as he guided the daughter of Vanbrugh to an impressive victory.
Assistant trainer Darren Bell was full of praise for his stable’s runner.
“Yeah, she was very good. She had an awkward barrier draw but was well ridden; she won well,” he said.
Miss Balvenie won by five lengths at Murtoa on debut in October last year before being tipped out following an unplaced effort at Ballarat in stronger benchmark-64 company.
“She may run at Sandown next Wednesday yet, depending on how she’s doing. That’s a bit quicker than we usually like to back them up, but she’s had a good spell and has come through her run on the weekend really well,” Bell said.
That would put her in a strong three-year-old fillies race over 1300 metres, but her recent win suggests she’ll look right at home on stronger grade.
Looking to this weekend, the Dabernig camp will debut its Sebring filly, Pistachio, in the Donald 2YO Classic over 1200 metres.
The chestnut entity has had two public jumpouts, the most recent she responded to riding and won the heat in professional style.
Bell was quietly bullish about his youngster’s prospects.
“She’s been jumping out well. She won a jumpout at Terang the other day, although the time wasn’t anything special. She’s showing good improvement from her last hit out, I expect her to be competitive,” he said.
Another performance worthy of praise was the win of South Australian galloper, Thanasi, in the 0-58 contest over 1400 metres.
The Jamie Opperman-trained seven-year-old sat outside race leader, Our Dexter, before taking over at the 400-metre mark. The gelded son of Equiano kicked clear at the top of the home straight and was never in danger, ridden hand and heels to the line to record a dominant 3.5length win.
The runner to follow from the race is the Brian and Ashley Mcknight-trained gelding, Mark’s Line. The four-year-old son of Nostradamus made up many lengths in the short Horsham straight to run into fourth place and looks close to a win on a track with a bit more room.
The Donald 2YO Classic will be contested on Saturday, a race that has proven to be a good form guide in the past. The race has been littered with subsequent city-performed horses and the race again looks to provide a reliable reference for the immediate staking future.