Track conditions key to Bavella’s Group One prospects

[Chief Stipe]

Lance Noble is pleased with smart two-year-old Bavella heading into Saturday’s Gr. 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni and he is hopeful the weather will play its part.

The daughter of Snitzel, bred and raced by Cambridge Stud proprietors Brendan and Jo Lindsay, was an impressive winner of her first two starts including the Listed Splice Construction 2YO. She has been thwarted by rain-affected going in her past two starts.

Bavella finished sixth in the Gr. 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes on a Slow7 surface and fourth behind Saturday’s rivals Yourdeel, Aalaalune and Aretha in the Gr. 1 Sistema Stakes on a Heavy10.

“She has done really well and we are happy with her,” Noble said. “Those two wet tracks with the Matamata Breeders’ and Sistema just weren’t to our liking, so we are hoping for better track conditions down at Awapuni.

“I think she would handle a little bit of rain, but I think on a better track you will see her really quicken. That might bring those three that have finished in front of her back to her a little bit. She wasn’t far away at Ellerslie, but I think to see her best we do need good ground.”

Saturday’s contest will stretch this season’s juveniles out to 1400 metres for the first time.

“Going over 1400 metres for the first time holds a little bit of concern, but I could say that in the Sistema, with how that track was and how wide they were coming, she almost went 1400 metres,” Noble said.

“I think that on a good track 1400 metres should be okay. If it got too wet it might make it a bit testing for her.”

Retained rider Leith Innes will again be aboard Bavella as she looks to add further black-type.

“Leith galloped her on Tuesday morning and was very happy with her so it is all systems go,” Noble said. “I think if she can get a cosy trip just in behind them or up on the speed, I think we could really see her accelerate from there.”

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