Speedy mare La Bella Roo is set to emulate her New Year’s Eve success of 12 months ago at Moonee Valley.
The six-year-old daughter of Bel Esprit will contest Saturday night’s $100,000 Premium Mares Handicap (1000m) exactly a year after her last win in a heat of the 55 Second Challenge (955m) at the track.
Bendigo trainer Peter Boynton remembers last New Year’s Eve well as it was the night La Bella Roo ran the fastest time in the Challenge series.
He won a new Mazda vehicle as the trainer of the quickest horse in the series and he is confident that La Bella Roo is on the verge of hitting her best form again.
“I am really happy with her,” Boynton said.
“She seems to be coming up like she was last year at the same time, and is really thriving.
“The way she is going I’m hoping to have a good couple of months with her over summer.”
La Bella Roo has been beaten at her last nine starts, including three runs this campaign, but was blocked for a run up the straight last start when a 2-1/2 length seventh to Rapidement over 955 metres at the Valley on December 16.
“Her last run was quite good but she just had no luck,” Boynton said.
For Boynton the performance was particularly encouraging after La Bella Roo hurt a muscle in her hindquarters at her previous start when seventh in another heat of this season’s 55 Second Challenge at the Valley on November 11.
“I think we are back on track with her now,” Boynton said.
Apprentice Jake Noonan will ride La Bella Roo who he partnered last start and steered to victory a year ago.
Boynton said La Bella Roo was an on-pace mare early in her career but with age has learned to relax back in the field and finish off her races better.
La Bella Roo is one of 21 of the 23 horses nominated for Saturday night’s race handicapped on the minimum of 54kg.
Topweight is Adelaide-trained mare Obsidian Dragon (59.5kg), who has won her last two starts at Morphettville, while Big Spirit (56kg) finished an improved second at Sandown last start.
AAP TURF
