The Darley stable began the day in mixed fashion with Bello winning the first race in Sydney while the much-heralded Harpers was a late scratching in Melbourne.
Debutante Harpers was at $4.20 for the two-year-old race at Flemington but took charge of James Winks on the way to the barrier and ran about 1200 metres, forcing her withdrawal.
There were no problems with her year older stablemate Bello ($2.60) in the Action Business Coach Hcp (1100m) at Rosehill with Nash Rawiller biding his time in the five-horse field which was led by Pink Power ($6).
Bello gathered her in to win by a half-neck with Diamond To Pegasus ($10) another three lengths astern.
Favourite Barbados ($2.50), a stablemate of Bello, weakened to finish last after being on the pace early.
Trainer Peter Snowden said Bello had impressed him as he had not expected too much from the immature three-year-old.
“He is still learning and I’m surprised he has won three from five. I didn’t expect him to be doing this,” Snowden said.
“It was good to see him race the way he did today because in previous starts he has led.”
Sydney’s premier jockey Rawiller is contracted to the Gai Waterhouse stable and gets few opportunities to ride Sheikh Mohammed’s horses.
With Kerrin McEvoy suspended and Josh Parr injured, Corey Brown who rode Barbados gets most of the plum Darley rides but Snowden said he was happy to use Rawiller when he could.
“Nash doesn’t always get the chance but while Kerrin’s away he’s riding for us today and I’ve got him on a few next week,” Snowden said.
AAP TURF
