Balle eyes bright future with maiden winner

[Wandering Eyes]

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

There looks to be plenty in store for promising trotter Eye Love You after her dominant maiden success at Cambridge Raceway on Saturday.

The daughter of Love You had all her previous outings at Alexandra Park and trainer Derek Balle was unsure how she would handle the left-handed way of going for the first time in the Off The Track Food & Bev Trot (2200m).

However, she quickly dispelled those fears, trotting comfortably at the rear of the field before being sent forward down the back straight by Balle to effortlessly take control of the race and run out a comfortable 4-1/2 length victor over stablemate Conrad H.

“I wasn’t sure how she would get around the bends left-handed, she hasn’t been flash around Pukekohe, but we closed the Murphy up a little tighter than usual and she trotted the bends really well, I was really happy with her,” Balle said.

“She is a nice filly who has plenty of ability, you have just got to get her doing things right.”

Eye Love You will now be freshened before returning to city racing later this month.

“We are going to give her a few days off and then she will step up to the next grade,” Balle said.

“That shouldn’t worry her as long as she is doing things right. We will probably go back to Auckland on the 20th of January.”

Balle was also pleased with the performance of Conrad H, who ran home well from the back of the pack to secure the quinella for the stable.

“I didn’t see his run, but I heard something was coming home alright. Zac (Butcher, driver) was happy with him,” Balle said.

“He probably doesn’t have as much speed as her, but he is learning and is getting better all of the time.

“He will either head back to Cambridge next week or Auckland on the 20th.”

Earlier on the card, Kimkar Dash showed signs of her former self when runner-up in the Taylor St Club, Join Now Handicap Trot (2700m).

“She trotted better. She is slowly getting back to what she used to be. We have had a few issues with her, but hopefully we are heading in the right direction,” Balle said.

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