The distance is right for race favourite Spinderbella as she steps up to the 2200m for the first time this preparation in the Listed $200,000 Sportsbet.com.au Ballarat Cup at Ballarat on Saturday.
The 2200m of the Ballarat Cup will suit Spinderbella. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Spinderbella will be saddling up for her fifth start this campaign and is coming off a nice win in the $100,000 LF Sign Group Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.
The Spinning World mare is a winner over the Ballarat Cup course and distance and trainer Robert Smerdon said she was ready to tackle the 2200m again.
“She won over this distance at this track just over twelve months ago. She fits into it pretty well,” Smerdon told Racing Ahead.
“The barrier and the weight give her a good run for a long way.”
“That puts her right in and her record beyond 1600m is really good. She only had one miss and there were excuses that night at Cranbourne, things didn’t work out that well.”
The lightly raced mare has been racing very consistently this prep with a first up second over 1600m at Mornington before winning over 1800m at Caulfield.
Spinderbella was then sent out the equal favourite when third in the $100,000 Inglis Pinker Pinker Plate (2080m) at Cranbourne on October 10 and was then back in the winner’s stall at Moonee Valley.
“Her record over a distance is very good. She missed a run on the way to this but she is light framed and is in-form, so you go there with a bit of confidence,” Smerdon said.
“She won over 1800m at Caulfield after being beaten a length at Mornington, she won over 2040m at Moonee Valley at her last start.
“It is an open race, but she goes there with a real chance.”
Chad Schofield will take over from Glen Boss and Smerdon expects Spinderbella to settle in the middle of the field from barrier three.
Spinderbella remains at the top of the market order for the Ballarat Cup and is the $5.50 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Smerdon will also saddle up Electric Fusion who has had some interest and has firmed from $14 to $12.
The Dan O’Sullivan trained Tuscan Fire is also well up in the market order at $6.50 ahead of the Chris Waller trained Vilanova at $8, At First Sight at $9, Count Of Limonade at $11, and Mujadale at $12.
