IBLE’S WEEK OF SASS AND SPICE

JOE Ible never got the chance to take a two-year-old filly named Shalidor he

really liked to the races.

Before she had the opportunity to strut her stuff, the Tassort youngster was kicked in a paddock, picked up an infection and died.

Shalidor’s owners, having bred the filly and knowing how much the Kembla Grange trainer thought of her, gave him the younger full sister to train.

Racing as Spice Baby, the three-year-old filly put the seal on Ible’s best week of the season so far, at Gosford today.

Ridden by Zac Lloyd, Spice Baby ($3.30) prevailed over $1.75 favorite Leantothemoon in a two-horse battle in the straight in the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1200m).

This was Spice Baby’s second win – her first was on debut at Moruya in July - from only five starts, and she has been placed in the other three.

Ible sought Lloyd for the ride to get the filly back into the winning list, and he didn’t let him down. He had her away smartly from an outside draw (six in a field of seven), then took a trail behind the leading pair.

Lloyd began his move before the home turn on Spice Baby so as not to allow the favorite to steal a march, and it paid off.

“Spice Baby keeps improving, and I think we might have a crack at a Midway race in town now,” Ible said as he left the course en route home.

“She certainly deserves that.”

It’s been a tough start to the 2025-26 season for Ible, who broke through for his first success at Nowra last Sunday with Pretty Sassy in the Belle of the South Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m) at the Showcase Cup meeting.,

He had endured numerous placings (11 to be precise) and was understandably thrilled to trouble the scorer twice this week.

“We’ve had plenty of placings, and nice to break the ice with a couple of winners this week,” Ible said.

“Hopefully, that has turned the tide for us, and more winners will follow in the coming months.”

HOOFNOTE: Sadly, Ice Baby (by Newcastle’s Golden Slipper winner Stratum, and the dam of Shalidor and Spice Baby) died in June this year.

Ice Baby produced a younger brother (sent to New Zealand in May last year and races as

Kotahitanga) to both her older sisters, and another colt by Profiteer, which was her last. Story by John Curtis, 18 December 2025. Photo by Bradley Photos.