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Stellar Bella needs ‘career best’, says Clarken

Will Clarken cannot fault star South Australian sprinting mare Bella Vella ahead of her return to Moonee Valley for Friday night’s $1 million Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m).

The Morphettville trainer said the Sangster Stakes winner had ticked all the boxes ahead of the race he’s calling her grand final.

“She’s trained on from her last (run) perfectly,” Clarken said on RSN.

“She had a serious piece of work on Monday morning to clean her out and get her to peak fitness and I believe we’ve got her there as good as we can get her.”

Clarken said he was certain Bella Vella would have to go to another level in a hot sprint field.

“She’s going to have to go career best to win the race – and she’s going to have to have a lot of luck go her way,” Clarken said.

“She’s a mare that’s in great form, but she’s going to have to go forward from her first-up run to be in the finish.

“(But) I can see her running really well.”

While the Moonee Valley track conditions are uncertain, with rain forecast in Melbourne, Clarken said a sticky inside gate poses the biggest challenge to Bella Vella.

“The huge negative she has to contend with is the barrier,” Clarken said.

“Any way I look at it, it’s bad for her.

“If the rain does come, that inside section will most probably chop out. She’ll be on the inferior ground but maybe that’ll make it easier to find some luck and stay hard up along the fence.

“If the rain doesn’t come, it plays even, and they don’t go that hard, she might be in behind them. She does like a bit of clear air.”

However, he added that star SA jockey Jamie Kah was the perfect person for the job.

“No one is riding better in Australia,” Clarken said.

Bella Vella will also be trying to continue the amazing run for part-owner – and fellow SA trainer – David Jolly following back-to-back Group 1 wins with his own stable star Behemoth, who secured his spot in the $15 million The Everest on Tuesday.

“I hope some of his luck rubs off on us,” Clarken said.

Rival stable Calvin and Tony McEvoy have Hey Doc first-up in the Moir, the smart sprinter boasting three wins and a second from five starts around Moonee Valley including the Group 1 Manikato Stakes in 2017.

Calvin said he was unfazed with a wide gate in a race that promises plenty of speed.

“I don’t think the barrier is too bad a thing for us, he won a Manikato from a wide gate,” McEvoy said.

“His timing out of the gates is impeccable when he’s on song. He seems to jump quicker from a wide gate and if we do get the rain it might be a blessing.”

Bella Vella is currently a $6 second favourite with tab.com.au, while Hey Doc is a $13 chance and the third of the South Australians in the race. Bold Star is marked a $26 chance, with Craig Williams booked to ride.

 

IMAGE: Bella Vella winning the Group 2 McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley earlier this month. PHOTO: The Valley

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