NEWCASTLE mare Hellavadancer, a model of consistency, has been set on a Mona Lisa – Tibbie Stakes path.
Josh Parr will be a new rider for the mare, who tackles the first leg of the feature provincial fillies and mares’ spring double, the $200,000 Domeland Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m), at Wyong on Sunday.
Trainer Kris Lees’ apprentice Ben Osmond has ridden Hellavadancer at her last two Sydney starts – including a Rosehill Gardens Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) victory against her own sex on August 17 – but the Mona Lisa is a non-claiming race.
Australian Bloodstock-raced Hellavadancer, a five-year-old daughter of Hellbent, has raced 26 times for six wins and nine placings and earnings of just over $380,000.
She has not finished further back than fourth at her last seven starts, which have yielded three wins.
“Hellavadancer is very genuine and deserves her chance in these provincial features for fillies and mares,” Lees said on Friday.
“She has drawn awkwardly at Wyong, and Josh will have to ride her as he sees fit.
“But she likes to put herself up on the speed, and I’d imagine he will be going forward on her.”
Whilst Lees has never won the Mona Lisa, he is no stranger to taking out his home track Tibbie.
He has won the race twice, with Fine Bubbles in 2014 and Princess Posh four years later.
The $250,000 Group 3 Tibbie (1400m) will be run at the Newcastle Cup carnival on September 20.
Prior to Lees’ attempting to snare the Mona Lisa with Hellavadancer, he has two runners at Saturday’s Rosehill meeting.
Ucalledit (Dylan Gibbons) lines up in the Benchmark 100 Handicap (1500m), and another consistent mare Bubba’s Bay (Ben Osmond) tackles the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m).
“I was really pleased with Ucalledit’s latest fifth to Tom Kitten in the Spring Preview (1400m) at Rosehill a fortnight ago,” Lees said.
“Perhaps 1400m would have been better than the extra 100m, but the good track is going to give him his chance.
“Bubba’s Bay has found a tough race, but she is very genuine and tries hard.
“She has drawn well, and Ben’s 3kg claim certainly helps.”
. Provincial trainers were to the fore at both Friday meetings at Moruya and Scone.
Hawkesbury’s Blake Ryan produced debutante Asuriito ($2.60 favorite), ridden by James Innes Jnr, to take the Maiden Plate (900m) at Moruya.
At Scone, Gosford’s Kylie Gavenlock and Newcastle’s Andrew MacDonald were successful with good-priced horses.
Gavenlock’s Tin’s Rock (Andrew Gibbons) overpowerd her Class 1/Maiden Plate (2200m) rivals at $11, and MacDonald’s mare Recap (Mikayla Weir) was a $26 winner of the Class 3 Handicap (1300m).
Story John Curtis, August 30, 2024
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