Sulabella made the journey down to Rotorua worthwhile for Michelle Bradley on Wednesday, producing a tough win.
A five-year-old by Proisir, Sulabella has performed on all surfaces with three wins to her credit prior to her midweek triumph and was rated a +550 chance with horse racing bookmakers in a market headed by stakes winner Itza Charmdeel.
Jumping from an outside barrier under Kelly Myers, the mare was prominent early sitting outside pacemaker Kahma Suitsya and the pair were never headed, eventually fighting out the finish with Sulabella prevailing by a short head.
Bradley was pleased to see her mare back in form and appreciating a step-up in distance after finishing midfield over 1400m at Ruakaka last start.
“I thought it was a pretty tough effort, I did have concerns about the track conditions even though she won on a heavy 10 at Pukekohe before. I think this was probably a bit more testing,” she said.
“I said to Kelly that we had to be positive out of the gates and be right up there, I didn’t need her leading and she rode her perfectly sitting outside the leader, giving her every possible chance and she was tough to hang on.
“She’s been there or thereabouts this preparation. She was probably looking for the mile at her last run on her home track (Ruakaka) and she’s run some nice races at Te Rapa so it was quite pleasing to get the win with her today.”
Sulabella was bred by Cam and Eva Heron of Highline Thoroughbreds, who remained in the ownership after Bradley purchased her as a yearling at Karaka for $12,000. She has gone on to win four races and $87,590 in stakes.
The mare was in winning form this time last season winning the 1400m progressive contest at the ITM/GIB Finals in July, a day Bradley remembers fondly after also claiming the stayers final with Bosch.
“She (Sulabella) is well and truly beyond the 1400m now, we haven’t tried her at 2100m yet but I did say to the owners that I could see her getting the distance, it’s just when I decide to do that,” Bradley said.
“We’ll have to sit down and decide what our options are going forward.
“Bosch won the stayers final last year and he’ll be back again next weekend, and depending on the order of entry, No Plan Be will be starting there too.”
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