Wishing Belle’s incredible win

Every now and then we see a performance that makes us sit up and take notice. And for harness racing fans at the rural track of Bunbury in Western Australia they were treated to the rare spectacle of Wishing Belle (Bettors Wish) sitting for three wide for most of the trip before outstaying her rivals in the Gary De Campo Memorial two year old fillies race on Saturday night.

Given that most of the attention on Saturday was at the Inter Dominion in Brisbane there were few indications that we would see such an outstanding effort and in particular by a two year old.

We know that Wishing Belle is good, Harnesslink wrote an article to that effect when she scored in the Gold Bracelet at Gloucester Park in March.

However in Saturday’s race Wishing Belle was drawn wide in seven and was second favourite behind the very capable Ma Petite Dame.

WISHING BELLE JUL 19 REPLAY

After the mobile was despatched Ma Petite Dame was caught three wide early but Wishing Belle was out four wide and had no chance of getting across. Eventually Ma Petite Dame was able to sit outside the leader and Trent Wheeler on Wishing Belle was stuck three wide with El Raes Girl holding the lead.

And that’s how the race continued. No one would have been surprised had Wishing Belle start to drop out at the business end of the race. And she notably gave ground in the back straight for commentator Richard Bell to say she was gone.

But Wishing Belle despite the torrid run seemed to get another gear and she started to storm home just as El Raes Girl was being declared the winner.

In fact Wishing Belle was finishing so fast that she had over four metres to spare over El Raes Girl and Livy Ann in third just ahead of Ma Petite Dame. The effort so astounded commentator Bell that he declared

“I’ve done a Kingston Town and Bill Collins here”

referring to that famous race when Kingston Town was given no chance by famed commentator Bill Collins.

Wishing Belle is royally bred by Bettors Wish from the former top race mare Libertybelle Midfrew (by Christian Cullen). In a stellar career she raced on 51 occasions for 19 wins, 11 placings and stake money of $640,497. Her feature wins were in the 2014 WA Oaks, the Golden Nugget in December 2014, the West Australian Breeders Stakes in May 2015 as well as the Stratton Cup and the Mount Eden Sprint in October 2016. She had one more start before being retired in November 2016.

At stud Libertybelle Midfrew has produced eight progeny including Keayang Kamikaze and the now retired Libby Lou. She also has a weanling filly by Tall Dark Stranger bred by KTC Bloodstock.

Wishing Belle was acquired for $55,000 by De Campo at the 2024 Perth APG yearling sale for a group of clients. With four wins and one placing from five starts Wishing Belle has more than paid her way with $83,357 in stake money.

It was especially fitting for Aiden De Campo with the family race named in honour of Gary De Campo.

But the night was even better for Aiden when he produced Bettor Move Maddy (Bettors Delight) to take out the two year old colts and geldings division of the Gary De Campo minor classic.

And Bettor Move Maddy was more than impressive having overcome a hard run perhaps not as eye catching as Wishing Belle.

Virtually friendless in the betting, Bettor Move Maddy again from barrier seven was given plenty of time early on by driver Joseph Suvaljko and was out three and four wide before eventually moving up on the outside of hot favourite Fear The Storm.

Ryan Bell on Fear The Storm had every reason to feel confident as his colt was freewheeling in the lead. But Bettor Move Maddy despite the harder run drew level on turning for home and showing real class outgunned Fear The Storm with Butter Me Up in third placing.

Bettor Move Maddy returned 1.54.9 for the trip the exact same time recorded by Wishing Belle.

BETTOR MOVE MADDY JUL 19 REPLAY

The dam of Bettor Move Maddy, Maddy White was a more than useful performer winning 11 races and over $110,000 in stake money before being retired in November 2015. She was prepared for most of her career by Aiden De Campo so again the win of Bettor Move Maddy had a special significance for him.

Maddy White has had a luckless time as broodmare but prior to Bettor Move Maddy she produced the very talented Star of Diamonds and Floewriter who both had successful careers.  She now has a yearling colt by Sweet Lou and a weanling filly by Bettors Delight.

Let’s hope that Wishing Belle didn’t take too hard a run from her run last Saturday as on her performance she is bound to feature in the forthcoming classics and she is sure to be a drawcard when she next appears.

Similarly Bettor Move Maddy is bound to improve and make his mark in the colts and geldings division. And one can be sure that Aiden De Campo will have them in tip top condition for their future races.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink