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Angel Of Mercy has kicked off proceedings at Randwick on Saturday with a narrow win in the Listed Sharp James H B Carr Stakes.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Hallowell Belle, with consistent Carnival form, started firm favourite at $2.45 with TAB Sportsbet Fixed odds, but it was not to be as Craig Williams continued his winning streak aboard the Gerald Ryan trained Angel of Mercy.
Despite solid Flemington form with a third behind Shopaholic and Mosheen in the Group 3 The Vanity(1410m), the filly's form has wavered since and she was allowed to start at $7.
“I had a bit of an association with her when she came to Melbourne. She cornered badly that day and should have beaten Shopaholic and Mosheen. So on that form she is pretty good”, Williams commented.
From barrier four Williams tucked the filly in on the rails in fifth, while James McDonald on Bound To Blush snatched the lead, with Hallowell Belle sitting on his tail three wide. The order stayed unchanged until the leaders rounded the final corner, when McDonald upped the tempo and Hallowell Belle was momentarily outpaced.
With Hallowell Belle dropping back slightly a gap opened and Williams expertly steered Angel Of Mercy through. Williams, in a fine display of riding skills, waited until the 200m mark before asking Angel Of Mercy to extend. The filly responded gamely, but it was only at the 50m mark that she finally got her head in front of long-time leader Bound To Blush.
Bound to Blush had no answer, but hung on for second by a neck, with Hallowell Belle in third, the margin 1.25L. The winning time was 1.23.10 with the final 600m in 34.58 seconds on the Good 3.
“Getting back to 1400m on a big track suited her. I cannot wait to get this filly to a mile. I reckon she is screaming out for it and her pedigree says it. She is a nice filly who still has some upside to her even though she has been in work a long, long time“, Ryan said.
Ryan also detailed his plans for the filly: “We have been taking our time with her and spacing her runs and I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up in Queensland. I always said she would get a mile and a quarter and I have entered her in the Oaks up there.”
Williams praised the filly: “She cornered better today and had a great acceleration late in the race. She is a really lovely filly and has great mannerisms if you have her relaxed.
Angel Of Mercy, by Hussonet out of the Clay Hero mare Pieta, recorded her second victory, taking her earnings to $98300 for owners E A & Mrs J A, T A & Ms C C Galante, B P Mullins and Ms D R Keegan.
