Wishing Belle just keeps raising the bar

Western Australia’s leading two year old filly Wishing Belle (Bettors Wish) turned in yet another superb harness racing performance to outstay her rivals in the Group 1 $215,000 Allwood Stud Westbred Classic Two year old fillies Final at Gloucester Park on Friday evening.

Despite her second row draw, Wishing Belle was still considered as head and shoulders above her rivals although there was some support for Im Category Five who had won her Heat of the Westbred.

Showing great speed early Im Category Five easily found the lead. However Aiden De Campo on Wishing Belle worked his way through the field to settle mid field but no sooner had they settled down he took off and Wishing Belle moved around the field to race outside the leader.

Im Category Five ran her third quarter in 27.8 seconds and for a fleeting moment she looked as if she had Wishing Belle’s measure as the two fillies strode clear of the field.

WISHING BELLE SEP 5 REPLAY

But showing all her star qualities Wishing Belle dug in and in a relentless surge she went to the front for an emphatic win of just under five metres from Im Category Five with Skyhigh Ada a long way back in third.

The powerfully built black filly has now won eight of her nine starts and has swept all before her in this campaign. Aiden De Campo has previously indicated that for a trip to the Eastern States to eventuate, everything would have to be in order but with so many local classics races up for the taking, it would be understanding if she just stays back in the West for the home grown features.

But wherever she appears in the future Wishing Belle will be a huge drawcard and that can only be good for harness racing.

The win completed a special time for De Campo as he had previously scored with Copy Cat Queen (My Hard Copy) in the $100,000 4YO Mares Westbred Final and then with Its Maa Time (Captain Crunch)  in the $100,000 3YO Fillies Westbred Final.

The two year old colts and geldings 2YO $215,000 Final was taken out in splendid style by classy colt Ideal Beach (American Ideal) who toyed with his rivals to lead all the way.

From the pole draw, driver Gary Hall Jnr allowed Ideal Beach to hold the lead and he went into another gear as he easily held off the Aiden De Campo pair of Bettor Move Maddy and American Machine who lost no admirers in filling the placings.

Trained by Justin Prentice Ideal Beach looks every inch a star with five wins from six starts. He too is shaping as a top drawcard for harness racing.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink