Her recent form has been nothing to write home about, but trainer Luke Fernie is starting to warm up to the chances of Wild Belle and can only see positives ahead of her return in the Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m) at Pinjarra on Saturday.
After enhancing her sprinting prowess with wins in the Listed Miss Andretti Stakes (1200m) and Rock Magic Stakes (1000m) early last year, Wild Belle was well beaten and couldn’t get warm at her next three starts at home and interstate.
Wild Belle found the Quokka (1200m) a bridge too far, finishing ahead of Super Smink only and fared little better in two Group 3 races in Melbourne, running last in the Plume Stakes (1200m) and 15th of 17 in the Furphy Sprint (1100m).
Wild Belle is a $13 chance in the Beaufine, but not withstanding her recent output, Fernie maintains faith in his speedy mare and believes all the indicators suggest she is capable of giving the favourite, Repossession a run for his money.
“She wouldn’t be going to the races if she wasn’t where she needed to be,” Fernie said on Tabradio.
“We’ve always had the train of thought that she would be a horse that once she gets her toe into the ground, she’d appreciate it.
“Her work behind the scenes on a soft track and even a heavy track has been much superior to what it was when she was flying before.
“We trotted her up in front of the vets the other day and they said it was the soundest they’ve seen her moving, so that’s always a positive leading into Saturday as well.”
Wild Belle goes into the Beaufine Stakes without a trial; it’s her first appearance since the Furphy Sprint at Flemington eight months back.
Fernie says fitness won’t be a reason if the five-year-old goes under, she’s done a mountain of work in readiness to have an impact first up.
“She’s done nearly 16 weeks in work,” Fernie said.
“I don’t think fitness will be an issue.”
Wild Belle has three wins from six tries fresh. From gate three she’ll be ridden by Chris Parnham, a winner of the race in 2019 when aboard Market Ruler.
“You sort of screw your face up every time you draw the inside down the Pinjarra straight, but it doesn’t seem to be too much of an issue at the minute,” Fernie said.
Repossession, under Parnham’s brother, Brad and unbeaten in two this time in, has tightened from $2.80 to $2.30 with Tabtouch. A son of Sessions, all four of his six wins have been at 1000m.
Toropa has also come in for big support, $7.50 to $4.80. Ace jockey William Pike has his first sit on the Stephen Miller-trained four-year-old.
Final Siren, with in-form hoop, Lucy Fiore, is next at $7.50.
Julio Santarelli