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Jolly eyeing off another Group 1 success

3 minute read

Bella Vella will be chasing another Group 1 success in the Moir Stakes at The Valley on Friday night.

BELLA VELLA.
BELLA VELLA. Picture: Racing Photos

Adelaide trainer David Jolly is enjoying the ride of his life through the deeds of Behemoth

The five-year-old son of All Too Hard has provided Jolly with Group 1 victories at his last two starts, claiming the Memsie Stakes and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, both over 1400m, at Caulfield. 

Jolly is chasing another Group 1 victory on Friday night with Bella Vella in the $1 million Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley. 

However this time Jolly doesn't need to concern himself with Bella Vella's preparation as his interest is as part of the mare's ownership group. 

Fellow Adelaide trainer Will Clarken has prepared Bella Vella for seven wins, including the Group 1 Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville in May. 

"I can probably sit back and relax more on Friday night and enjoy the ride," Jolly said. 

"And I suppose that is what it has been with the mare." 

Jolly explained over a number of years he and Clarken had taken on a few horses in a bid to rejuvenate their careers. 

He said Bella Vella fitted their criteria and what they were hoping for was to win a couple of Saturday races in Adelaide and possibly a stakes race. 

"It's well publicised that she had been served by Criterion, but didn't get in foal, so we took a punt," Jolly said. 

"We didn't pay a lot of money and you're not really sure if you've got a racehorse or a broodmare. 

"We loved the style of mare she was, we loved her pedigree, her action and John Kelton, another owner, is a form analyst and said she rated quite well for Saturday level here. 

"We hoped that if she lifted her game she might get to the Oakbank Stakes. She managed to win that, although it wasn't at Oakbank this year, and managed to win a Group One as well. 

"If we had won a couple of Adelaide races with her we would have been more than happy, but to win a Group 1, it's incredible. 

"If you tried to do that again, you could have a thousand hits and miss." 

Jolly may also have a runner as a trainer on Friday night's program entering Streetcar Stranger in the 55 Second Challenge (955m). 

But he is concerned the sprinter may miss a start being so far down the order of entry. 

"We'll accept with him, but we'll also accept with him here in Adelaide and see which races suits best," Jolly said.


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