Clarken Confident in Bella Vella in the Robert Sangster Stakes

The way Bella Vella wowed Will Clarken after her last-start victory has the stable confident she could repeat her 2020 triumph in the $502,250 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.

The seven-year-old mare pulled off a brilliant first-up victory in the $127,250 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) at the same Adelaide venue on April 23.

That was after she enjoyed 13 months in the paddock.

She has been given $14 winning odds from Bet365 for Saturday, and Clarken’s race programmer Lachie Weekley believes that is a generous figure.

“She was terrific first-up. She’s drawn a really nice barrier (seven) and it looks like she’s going to get a really nice run,” he told horsebetting.com.au.

“She’s been an amazing horse for the stable and she’s never let us down before.”

There is no shortage of sprinters who could salute on the day, with September Run ($4.60 favourite for Chris Waller), Bella Nipotina ($6) and Away Game ($8 both for for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace) coming to mind.

“It’s a particularly open race this year. It’ll come down to how the race is run and how the track is playing will come into it,” Weekley said.

“But Will couldn’t have her in better shape. Her work on Tuesday was beautiful and she’s had a great week.

“It means she should run well. Whether that means win or a lovely fourth or fifth, that remains to be seen.

“But she’s in great shape and is a winning chance in a very strong race.”

Weekley was stunned at how well Bella Vella performed last start after a marathon 13-month spell.

“She was coming off over 12 months away from the racetrack. Naturally, you would think that she would tighten up as far as fitness is concerned,” he said.

“But she jumped and, as usual, did everything right and showed a lot of ticker there late in the race.

“That’s very customary of her. The second horse (Instant Celebrity for Phil Stokes) was probably there to beat her, but in fairness to Bella Vella she was strong on the line.

“Importantly, she’s come through that run in great order.”

Weekley said his seven-year-old mare – who has over $970,000 in prizemoney with 11 wins from 35 starts – could be improving with experience.

“Arguably. Sometimes these mares get that little bit older and they turn five, six, seven and they can start strengthening that little bit more,” he said.

“You could argue that. That first-up win is arguably as good as she’s gone.”

Kayla Crowther, 23, rode Bella Vella first-up and she will do so again on Saturday.

“Kayla is riding particularly well. She rides this style of horse well,” Weekley said.

“She’ll come out lovely and have her on a nice reign. She’s very committed and has a great work ethic.

“That’s taken her a long way and she’s come on in good stead the past six to 12 months.”

If all goes well and Bella Vella runs well on Saturday, Weekley said she next might line up in the $502,250 Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 21.

“We’ll see how Saturday goes first and let the dust settle. There’s the Goodwood here but at the end of the day the Sangster was always going to be a race that we wanted to have her cherry-ripe for,” he said.

“And it appears that she’s ready to go.”

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