Impressive Trial Winner To Resume At Randwick

Talented mare Angel Bee beat a field packed full of Group 1 winners in a barrier trial over 900 metres at Rosehill Gardens last Friday and is set to return to the races in the TFE Hotels Great Weekends Handicap (1150m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Angel Bee will start her spring campaign in the TFE Hotels Great Weekends Handicap at Randwick this weekend.

Angel Bee will start her spring campaign in the TFE Hotels Great Weekends Handicap at Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Angel Bee went straight to the front in the barrier trial that included the likes of Sacred Falls, Messene, Boban, Hawkspur and Foreteller and she fought off a late challenge from talented sprinter Kencella to take out the trial.

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes told Racing Ahead that he was not getting carried away by the barrier trial victory of Angel Bee, but said that he was happy with her performance last Friday and expects her to perform well this weekend.

“She trialed and trailed well,” Hawkes said,

“She was in a cracking hot trial the other day, but they are only trials.

“People get a bit too carried away with barrier trials.

“My father said to me many years ago ‘when they start paying winning percentages for barrier trials we will start winning a few more’.

“She won well, she did a good job and she holds the class record at Randwick; not many horses can do that over 1200.”

Angel Bee started her 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival with a win in The IAWB Superstar Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury on February 21 and made her debut at Group level in the Group 3 Roy Higgins Tribute (1200m) at Royal Randwick on March 15.

The Pins mare was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29, but blundered at the start and was never able to get into the race.

Angel Bee was sent to the spelling paddock after finishing fifth in the Races.Com.Au Handicap (1200m) at Warwick Farm on April 9 and Hawkes believes that the four-year-old relished her time away from trackwork and has returned for her spring campaign as a more mature horse.

“She is going well and is a bit more relaxed this time; that was her problem last time that she would get a bit keen,” Hawkes said.

“Hopefully we can squeeze a bit more out of her this time because she is a bit more relaxed.”

Angel Bee is currently on the second line of the TFE Hotels Great Weekends Handicap betting market at Ladbrokes Australia; with Team Snowden-trained I’ve Got The Looks ($3.50) receiving plenty of support in the lead-up to the race.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.