A recent arrival to Tulloch Lodge has already made an excellent first impression, and if Bella Vella can maintain her form the Magic Millions carnival beckons.
The three-year-old filly won on debut for Gai Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott at Hawkesbury over 1000m last month and will step up in distance for her first metropolitan start in a TAB Handicap (1300m) at Randwick.
Bella Vella had four starts in Victoria with trainer Michael Moroney before the owners opted to transfer her to Sydney.
“We’ve had her for a full preparation and she’s had plenty of good ground work before coming to us,” Bott said.
Bella Vella had been accepted for two races on Saturday but Waterhouse and Bott opted to run her against her own sex rather than a 3YO Benchmark 75 Handicap (1100m).
“She’s won convincingly over a shorter trip but we’d like to stretch her out to the 1300 against her own sex,” he said.
“I think she’s relaxing really well for us and that might open up a few more options to go to Magic Millions.”
Waterhouse and Bott potentially face another choice with Bella Vella if she heads to the lucrative Gold Coast meeting on January 13, the 3YO Fillies and Mares race (1300m) or the 1200m sprint.
Bella Vella ($5) was on the third line of betting with the TAB on Thursday while the Kris Lees-trained Sasso Corbaro led the market for the five-horse field at $2.40.
