JUST when Bernie Hewitt's current crop of three-year-old fillies was already looking superb he's got himself another potential star on his hands with Ballerini.
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Ballerini could have nearly been loaded back on to the float by the time the rest of her rivals crossed the line in Friday night's BHRC Stallion Tender Now Available Pace ($2.30 favourite) at Bathurst Paceway.
Hewitt, in the gig, guided his Bettors Delight filly to a crushing 43 metre win, continuing what has been a brilliant turnaround in form for Ballerini.
The filly had a torrid time in her recent Queensland winter campaign with Dennis Picker but since her return home she has found the spark Hewitt has been waiting for.
"She's been coming along well since she's been back here. I had her 12 months ago. She could always run but had a few pacing issues," he said.
"It was a 47 class race she was in. There were a couple of horses that had won before but it wasn't a strong field. She did everything right and put them away pretty easily."
Ballerini took out the race in a mile rate of 1:57.5, using her back half of 56.9 to cruise clear of the pack.
Hewitt hopes it won't be a one-off moment for the filly.
"With Dennis she was doing what she was doing here before, she just wouldn't pace well. It didn't matter where she was, she couldn't get it organised, but with a gear change or two it seems to have helped her," he said.
"Hopefully she keeps going in a positive direction and doesn't revert back to what she was doing before."
It's the first win for Ballerini in her seventh career start, and the first time she's finished inside the top three of a race.
Ballerini picked a good time to get herself back to her best ability.
She'll be a part of Hewitt's big assault on the upcoming three-year-old fillies NSW Breeders Challenge heats.
"I have no issues with her ability and she'll match up with most of the fillies about," Hewitt said.
"I'm working another filly Winona Writer who has won four out of four. I've got a strong team. There's Onajoyride, Something About Lexy, Beta Jewel and Infinity Beach."
The three-year-old NSW Breeders Challenge heats will take place at Bathurst Paceway on Wednesday October 13.
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