“I think she’s the best horse and will have to be to win from there. We will find out how good she is.”
Wishing Belle will start as the odds-on favourite on Friday night after drawing barrier 11, and De Campo is guarded with his confidence heading into the Group 1 $215,000 Westbred Classic, with the draw likely seeing her having to do work throughout the run.
“It’s not a bad draw, but she will have to do some work at some stage.
“She’s come on well from the heat win and I’m looking forward to the challenge.” Aiden De Campo said.
Wishing Belle has been impressive from day one and with $151,000 in stakes already, connections will be hoping to add a Group 1 to her already impressive resume.
De Campo heads into Friday night's final with three fillies in the 2YO Westbred Classic, with Altas Last unlucky in Monday’s barrier draw when she copped barrier 9, and El Raes Girls drawing alongside stablemate Wishing Belle in barrier 10.
De Campo predicts that there will be a few off the front line wanting forward spots, but he saw the one horse, Maas Attack, trying to hold the lead for breeder, owner and trainer Mike Howie.
Michael Young heads to Gloucester Park with five runners spread over the four major finals, with Trixie Dora representing his stable in the 2YO fillies final, and after drawing barrier two on Friday night, Young is hoping his filly can place.
“It’s a good draw for her, her heat run was good and should get a good position, I think she can probably place.” Michael Young said
Ryan Bell goes into the race with very little confidence with Ma Petite Dame, explaining that the filly has had a torrid preparation behind the scenes at home.
“She needed barriers 1 or 10 to figure, she’s a very tired horse, nothing has gone right for her behind the scenes all prep.” Ryan Bell said.
Ma Petite Dame scraped into the final after finishing in sixth placing in heat 1 on Tuesday, August 26, but started off her career strong with a win in the $125,000 APG 2YO Fillies Sales Classic Final back in February.
First heat winner Im Category Five has drawn barrier three in Friday nights final for Colin and Maddison Brown, and Brown hopes to use their inside draw to their advantage in the final.
“I will be driving positive early to try and keep the advantage on Wishing Belle.” Maddison Brown said.
The Field:
- Maas Attack
- Trixie Dora
- Im Category Five
- Ma Petite Dame
- Crunchnsip
- Slay Queen
- Shes Super Charged
- Drop The Ace
- Altas Last
- El Raes Girl
- Wishing Belle
- SKyhigh Adda
- The Sea Siren (EM1)
- Shoo Boozy (EM2)
It looks to be a big night for the stable, with De Campo heavily represented throughout the whole night, but he heads into the 2YO C&G final with four hopefuls in the group 1.
Bettor Move Matty was on his best behaviour in his heat, with De Campo making some minor changes to his gear going into last week’s heat, adding shortener pins and heavier style hopples, and it worked a treat, with the two-year-old son of Bettors Delight USA taking out the first heat on the night in 1:57:1.
Drawing barrier four in the final, De Campo is happy with how he has come through since the heat.
“I’m really happy with him, it looks like he will have to do it tough, but it won’t worry him.” De Campo said.
Wheels Of Fortune finished second in his heat behind Ideal Beach but will have to overcome the barrier five draw.
“Wheelsofortune has an awkward draw for him, but he is versatile and getting better each run.”
American Machine finished in third placing in that same heat, with De Campo impressed with his run.
“He’s drawn to get a super run, it was a career best in his heat and he should continue to improve..”
Bettor Behave drew the worst of his team, out in barrier nine, but De Campo isn’t throwing in the white flag just yet.
“The draw hurts his chances, and he will need some luck, but he is capable if he does.”
Likely favourite Ideal Beach has drawn barrier one in the final, but De Campo wouldn’t be completely surprised if his team cause an upset.
“All four have the ability, the draws make it tough, but I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Leading state trainer Michael Young prepares Toby George, Butter Me Up and Cease To React for the 2YO Westbred C&G Final on Friday, but he’s adamant Toby George is his best chance of the three.
“He’s my best chance of the three. I’d love to see him hit the rail but not happening here, he should get a good spot and hopefully can be placed.”
The Field:
- Ideal Beach
- Waves Of Fortune
- Toby George
- Bettor Move Matty
- Butter Me Up
- Wheelsofortune
- Wake Up Geoff
- El Mystro
- Bettor Behave
- American Machine
- Chugach
- Cease To React
- Last King Of Capel (EM1)
- Arma Mushu (EM2)
Image: Wishing Belle