The rain was softly falling before and after the first race at Tyers Park on Monday but the heavens withheld as Cheeky Bella ($2.90) claimed the win in the Panorama Auctions Benchmark 60 Handicap (1400 metres).
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Starting from the favourable first barrier, Hawkesbury owners Mike and Louisa Van Gestel watched on as jockey Blake Spriggs guided the six-year-old bay mare to a three-quarter length victory over All Things In Time ($3.40).
Louisa expressed her delight in seeing Cheeky Bella win, in what was the horse’s 44th career start.
“It was a smaller field, which was good,” she said.
“It was a pretty good run. She was out front and I think she handled the front well.
“Having barrier one was an advantage.
“She is quite an honest and she can be a bit tricky to race sometimes, a bit head strong.
“Overall her career hasn’t been too bad.”
Regardless of the soft rain beforehand, the track was rated a good three.
Cheeky Bella bolted from barrier one to take the lead but was closely pursued by Edge Of Madness ($51), who had Stacey Metcalfe in the saddle.
The five starters were happy to sit and keep their positions, until the field begun to change as they came into the final straight.
Cheeky Bella kept her lead but Edge Of Madness fell back and up moved All Things In Time and favourite Eva Jean ($2.40), as both horses pursued not just second place but the leader.
With 200 metres to go, All Things In Time took second place from Eva Jean and Jeff Penza pushed the seven-year-old bay gelding to threaten the leader.
However, Cheeky Bella held on to win the race.
Maybe if the race was a little longer, All Things In Time could have won it but it was not meant to be.
Ausbred Diamond, who started from barrier five, finished fourth, while big outside Edge Of Madness eventually finished in fifth place.
Cheeky Bella’s victory caps of a perfect return to Bathurst, at the track where she finished sixth in her last start in February 11.
However, she did win at Orange’s Towac Park on January 30, in what was her first start since October last year.
Overall, Cheeky Bella has now claimed 17 placings throughout her career including eight seconds and five thirds.
The Murtajail x La Figlia Minardi mare’s best previous result at Bathurst was a win back in November, 2016.
Her first start in Bathurst was a ninth place finish in January, 2016, and she finished second at Tyers Park last May last year, third in May last year, fifth in August last year, second in September last year and sixth earlier this month.
Van Gestel is not sure where the horse will race in her next start.
