South Australian sprinting mare Bella Vella faces a tricky wide gate in Friday night’s $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
The Sangster Stakes winner – trained at Morphettville by Will Clarken – eased from $9 to $13 after drawing 10, with Goodwood winner Trekking, who finished fourth behind Classique Legend in last week’s Everest, firming to a $4 favourite after drawing barrier seven.
Multiple Group 1 winner Hey Doc is on the third line of betting at $7 after drawing barrier six. The star McEvoy-trained sprinter looked sharp working around Moonee Valley at this morning’s breakfast with the stars and appears primed getting out to the 1200m.
Bella Vella will be again be ridden by Jamie Kah who had a mixed morning after her Cox Plate ride Buckhurst was excluded from the race.
The Moonee Valley committee decided that Buckhurst, a Group 3 winner in Europe, didn’t deserve a spot in the race. The committee instead included both Master Of Wine and Grandslam, whose only win came in Adelaide as a two-year-old before his career-best effort when third behind Ole Kirk in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas earlier this month.
“I’m shocked, to be honest,” Buckhurst’s co-owner Nick Williams said on RSN today.
Everest-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy will be hoping to continue his big spring aboard Kiwi mare Probabeel, who has drawn perfectly in barrier two.
Note: Bella Vella caps are still available from TRSA, with money raised going to the SA Equine Welfare Fund. Click here to buy your very own Bella Vella cap!
IMAGE: Bella Vella winning the McEwan Stakes at Moonee Valley. PHOTO: The Valley
