VELLA’S DONE IT – A WINNER AGAIN

MATTHEW Vella won’t be tempted!

The versatile Hawkesbury horseman was back in the winner’s circle today as he kick-started a bevy of provincial winners at Gosford, but training full-time isn’t on his radar.

Vella became the 25th Hawkesbury trainer to prepare at least one winner this season, and was understandably delighted to see $2.60 favorite Now You’ve Done It (Rachel King) break through in the 3YO Maiden Handicap (1000m).

The well-bred filly was only his sixth runner this season (she has been responsible for three of them), and gave her trainer his first success since Battlefield scored at Kembla Grange in January last year.

“Now You’ve Done It Is the only horse I’ve got in work who is in racing trim,” Vella said this evening.

“She is by Zoustar from a half-sister (Do Not Disturb) to King’s Legacy (dual Group 1 winner) and was bred by Sir Owen Glenn (for whom Vella trained a team of horses previously at Hawkesbury).

“However, she has a few conformation errors and Sir Owen gave her to me to train to try to win a race before she goes to the breeding barn.

“Rachel said she has the ability to win another race, and I’ll see how she comes through Gosford and whether we can find another suitable one for her.

“But this will definitely be her last preparation.”

Vella has no desire to return to training a bigger team.

“I’m far too busy with my breaking-in and pre-training business,” he said.

“I’ve always got around 90 horses here for a lot of good clients.”

Now You’ve Done It, having only her third start and first since last October, had only five rivals on the heavy track.

She wasn’t the quickest away, but King saved good ground on the inside before switching off the fence at the 400m, then going back near the inside when a decent gap appeared on straightening.

Now You’ve Done It hit the front and gamely held off Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini’s late finishing Tickle Me Pink ($7.50), with fellow Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan’s Queen Of Thorns ($11) holding on to third placing.

Now You’ve Done It made contact with the railing leaving the enclosure, and was cleared to start following a veterinary examination.

HOOFNOTE: Vella’s filly was the first of five provincial winners on the eight-race program.

He was joined by:

ROSS McCONVILLE (Kembla Grange) – Donwon ($2.05 favorite in the Midway Maiden Handicap, 1000m;

NATHAN DOYLE (Newcastle) – Formal ($1.35 favorite in the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1000m);

GREG McFARLANE (Gosford) – Whispering Rupert ($9.50 in the Super Maiden Handicap, 1200m);

ADAM DUGGAN (Gosford) – Divine Bene ($4 in the Class 1 Handicap, 1200m).

 Story John Curtis, May 29, 2025 - Pics Gosford Race Club