(MISS) ROCKABELLA SHINES IN NEW SOUTH WALES
Former Overport Lodge mare Rockabella has commenced her New South Wales racing on a strong note for Queensland owner Greg Brodie, notching an early treble.
The 4YO Art Major-Calypso Beach mare was too good again at Bathurst on Wednesday, clearing out by 17.3 metres to win a $A5000 C1-2 mobile 2130m pace.
Starting a dominating $1.30 favourite for trainer Paul Russo and driver Ashlee Siejka, and racing as Miss Rockabella in Australia, she settled back, improved three wide over the final lap and won as she liked.
She rated 2:03.5 for the distance, running her last 800m in 60.2s and final 400m in 30.1s.
Rockabella has won three of six starts since being sent to New South Wales, recording earlier wins at Dubbo over 2120m in the Listed race, the 2-5 win $25,000 Red Ochre Classic Final (2:00.8 mile rate), and again at Bathurst in a 4YO race over 1730m (2:01.1 rate).
Courage Tells completed a double for ex-Mark Jones pacers at Bathurst, by taking out a $A7000 4YO pace.
The Courage Under Fire-Tellalie gelding, formerly raced in NZ by Greg Brodie, also delivered as a $1.30 win favourte.
He led throughout for the same trainer-driver combination, and despite over-racing in the middle stages, won by 3.4m in a 2:01.7 rate for the 1730m. He quickened over his lat 800m in 59.4s and closing 400m in 29.3s.
Courage Tells, exported after winning two of three 2YO starts from the Mark Jones stable, now has the lifetime record of 12 wins from 40 starts for $51,674 in stakes.