Odds on favourite Bella Martini kept her winning momentum going with a hard fought victory in the Listed $150,000 Audi Alto Central Coast Gosford Guineas (1200m) at Gosford today.
Brenton Avdulla, above, had to push Bella Martini to the line to win the Gosford Guineas. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Bella Martini was chasing a hat trick after wins at Moonee Valley and Caulfield and was sent out as the $1.90 favourite in the field of seven three year olds.
Winning jockey Brenton Avdulla settled Bella Martini in third position, one off the fence after the filly jumped well and had her in the firing line when heads were turned for home.
The Stratum filly then appeared to lose momentum half way down the straight when Hugh Bowman loomed up on her outside on the $2.70 second favourite Island Missile.
Bowman has settled the Team Snowden trained Island Missile at the tail of the field after jumping from the outside barrier and started a long sweeping run just before the home turn.
It appeared that Island Missile headed Bella Martini at the 100m mark but the Team Hawkes trained filly fought back to get the judge’s decision.
Third placegetter Epidemic ($9.50), who carried the famous Godolphin royal blue colours, had an interrupted run in the straight but found a way find some of the minor prizemoney.
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said that Bella Martini had done a good job in the way that she settled into the Sydney scene after having done all of her previous racing in Melbourne.
“She is a well bred filly. It takes a big effort for a horse to come from Melbourne who hasn’t been in our system before. It is a great effort, Brenton rode her perfect and a very deserved win,” Hawkes said.
“She is a nice filly. She just got a bit lost on the corner.”
“I told Brenton not to really go for her until you have to and it wasn’t until Hughie’s horse came again that she really dug deep.”
“She is a winner. That is what she is. She hasn’t had a lot of blemishes in her short career.”
Today’s win took Bella Martini’s record to four wins from seven race starts and boosted her prizemoney earnings to $232,700.
