Jilliby Ballerini still too good despite causing false start

Supporters of brilliant mare Jilliby Ballerini (Majestic Son) had a few anxious moments before she engaged in an all the way harness racing win in the $75,000 Group 2 McLabour Kilmore Trotters Cup on Saturday evening.

Jilliby Ballerini seemed a bit fractious early before a false start was declared. But there was no such repeat on the second occasion when she held out the well supported Im Bobby to establish a clear lead as the gate was released.

James Herbertson on Im Bobby tested Jilliby Ballerini but her driver Jason Lee stayed calm and collected as he rated the mare perfectly in the lead. Her stablemate Jilliby Dreamlover who had won her last five starts obtained a gun run behind the leader while Rockinwithattitude enjoyed a one out and one back with Inter Dominion winner Arcee Phoenix right behind her.

Jilliby Ballerini upped the tempo in the back straight on the last occasion and gave her rivals the slip. Im Bobby felt the hard run by weakening. Jilliby Dreamlover battled on but never looked likely to catch Jilliby Ballerini who sailed in by five metres from Jilliby Dreamlover with El Resamo coming from well back for a credible third.

JILLIBY BALLERINI FEB 7 REPLAY

Running her final two quarters in 28.3 and 29.3 seconds, Jilliby Ballerini ran an overall mile rate of 1.57.8 for the 2180 metre journey.

Lee was delighted with Jilliby Ballerini’s performance.

She was good. I’ve had her better the way they have had to prepare back at home to back her up for next week. She’s a little bit underdone but she still did it well.

Commenting on the fact that Jilliby Ballerini caused the false start and hence will be out of the draw for next week’s Great Southern Star. Lee was philosophical although she could get back in the draw if she performs satisfactorily in a trial during the week before running in the Great Southern Star this Saturday evening.

It’s pretty unlike her, maybe as a three year old you expect that. She was just a bit keen and a bit fresh. Just threw her head and shied at something on the side of the track and jumped sideways at it. We’ll enjoy the good part the same thing happened with Keayang Chucky last year and we were able to get a trial in him during the week. We ran him in the Heat and got him in the Final.

They’re options but we’ll have to look at it. Unfortunately it’s a little bit of a headache. Jilliby Dreamlover was super and I thought going down the back  if I was going to get beat it would be Dreamlover, she was travelling so well. It’s great to come and win a big race.

She had to burn the candle at both ends and still did it quite easily at the end. Switching off late I wasn’t asking for much. We’re blessed that we have them both (Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini).

The question that everyone is asking is whether Jilliby Ballerini could seriously challenge her illustrious stablemate Keayang Zahara. Lee has indicated that Jilliby Ballerini is not that far behind Keayang Zahara but understandably won’t be drawn as to whether she could actually beat her.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink