Southern apprentice jockey Floor Moerman collected the biggest win of her brief career to date on the middle day of the West Coast circuit, guiding La Bella Nera (NZ) (Sweynesse) to victory in Wednesday’s Vernon and Vazey 0800 Truck Parts Reefton Cup (1400m).
The Dutch native has been race-riding since late November and broke her maiden on New Year’s Day at Riverton, and after finishing second aboard The Buffer in the Greymouth Cup (2000m) last Sunday, she partnered with the John and Karen Parsons-trained mare in an attempt to go one better in Reefton’s feature contest.
Northern visitor Island Hop was tipped as the horse to beat, closing a $2 favourite ahead of La Bella Nera ($4). Jumping from barrier five of six, La Bella Nera showed her customary early speed and took over the pacemaking role from Tap ‘N’ Go as they exited the home straight, while Island Hop settled last.
Moerman wasn’t breaking any records aboard La Bella Nera along the back stretch, and when Tap ‘N’ Go came up to challenge on the home turn, the mare had plenty left in store, storming away with the Cup by 1 – ¾ lengths. Island Hop was eye-catching late, finding the line strongly into third.
All of La Bella Nera’s six prior wins had come at 1200m or less, but a delighted Moerman indicated the mare had seen out the distance comfortably.
“I was a bit worried about the distance, she normally goes over 1200m and ideally I wanted a firmer track,” she said.
“But, she kept travelling nicely and around the 600m, I saw Terry Moseley (jockey of Tap ‘N’ Go) coming so I clicked her up and from there on, she travelled lovely.
“I’m liking the West Coast.”
La Bella Nera has now won seven of 23 starts and just shy of $150,000 for Karen Parsons, who bred and races the daughter of Sweynesse. She is the third foal out of stakes-winning mare Arietta, who has also produced four-race winner Watch Out for the Balcairn couple.
The win completed a double for Moerman on the Reefton card, after she rode her mentor Krystal Williams’ charge Charm Manhattan to a 2 – ¾ length success in the Fahey Contracting (1020m).
