Sugar Bella justified her favouritism by coming over the top of her rivals to claim honours in the Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) this afternoon.
Slow Burn ($4) and Perizada ($11) dictated the early tempo, with both jumping well out of the gate.
Jockey Jason Collett opted to settle at the back of the pack, and had Sugar Bella go through her gears on the turn towards the straight.
The mare was six lengths off the pace in the turn home, but was able to run down the leading pack on the outside; swooping home to take the win on the line from Miss Que ($2.90) and Perizada ($2.70).
In his first ride with the mare, Collett was impressed with the performance over the last 100m.
“She had a job to do at the top of the straight, I got on the back of the right horse and had a balance ready for her to strike. She just seemed to find another gear in the last 100m because Miss Quee had me” Collet said.
Collett was happy with his first run with Sugar Bella, “this was my first ride and wow she is pretty impressive.”
The win this afternoon means that Sugar Bella now becomes ineligible for the Provincial Championship, with the opportunity to take on Winx in the George Rider Stakes too good to pass up.
Trainer Kris Lees was bothered with Sugar Bella’s ineligibility for the Provincials.
“It was a terrific win, I gave up on her at the 100m mark, she’s a high-quality mare.”
It didn’t look like the pace was there for the back-markers, but she has an electric turn of foot and it was very pleasing she was able to bounce up.”
Lees will be hoping the good form continues with a number of options on the table for the mare’s next assignment.
“To see a win like that is most satisfying, she’s got a terrific record and hope she can stay in that type of form.”