Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Brilliant three-year-old filly Wising Belle will be aiming to extend her winning sequence to eight when she resumes after an absence of just under six months in the 2130m APG The Industry Owned Sales Company Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trained and driven by Aiden De Campo, Wishing Belle has amassed $257,511 in stakes from eight wins and a second placing from nine starts.
Under the conditions of the race Wishing Belle will start from the outside barrier in the field of eight, and her sheer brilliance and versatility should enable to maintain her winning ways. However, she is unlikely to have everything going her way, particularly against talented rivals Miss Leopatra (barrier one) and Sovereign Jewel (four).
De Campo is confident of success, saying: “I’m really happy with Wishing Belle; her work has been very good.”
However, De Campo is sure not to take Miss Leopatra and Sovereign Jewel lightly, with Miss Leopatra, to be driven by Jocelyn Young for trainer Cameron Ross, most impressive in notching her first victory at her seventh start when she began speedily from the No. 2 barrier and set the pace to beat Bet Im Hot at a 1.54.5 rate over 1730m last Friday night at her second outing after a spell.
“This is a class rise for Miss Leopatra,” said Young. “A lot of her rivals have had a bit more experience, but she has drawn the pole and if she can hold up, she should be alright.”
Sovereign Jewel, trained and driven by Dylan Egerton-Green, produced an excellent effort at her first run for six months when she led from barrier five and won easily from Slay Queen and Chefs Kiss at a 1.55.6 rate over 1609m at Bunbury on February 10.
Several of the State’s best mares will clash in the $25,000 APGgold.com.au Pace over 2130m, with Banjup trainer Michael Young producing star mares Penny Black (barrier six) and Heavenly Gipsy (two) for their first-up runs.
Their clash with Little Darling (outside barrier at No. 8), Wonderful To Fly (three), Alta Allure (seven), Water Lou (five) and Madam Publisher (four) should result in considerable action.
Heavenly Gipsy, who has a losing sequence of seven, will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr, who said that he would be anxious to take advantage of the draw by setting the pace.
Trainer Ryan Bell said that he was looking forward for a strong showing from Franco Encore, who will begin from the No. 4 barrier in the 1730m APG Industry Owned, Not For Profit Pace.
“I would like Franco Encore to be able to lead,” said Bell. “He is very quick and he gets his chance in this grade to show that he can be a player in the right race.”