Just a shade over a half length covered the first six home in a thrilling finish to the R150 000 Listed Milkwood Stakes at Fairview on Friday. A typical flash of genius by veteran heavyweight Andrew Fortune saw the Dynasty filly Bella Spumante register some well deserved black type.
Andrew Fortune gets Bella Spumante up to nab La Rebel (Luyola Mxothwa) with the free-striding Summer Cruise holding on for third. ahead of Red Heart (Pic – Coastal Photos)
This was pure vintage Fortune at his almost arrogant best as he produced Bella Spumante from lengths off inside the 200m to catch and beat the luckless year younger La Rebel in a grandstand finish.
Formerly trained by Brett Crawford in the Cape, Bella Spumante has found a new lease on life since relocating to the yard of Alan Greeff and was registering her third win from five starts with this paddock value boosting score over a distance considered short of her best.
Easy to back at 9-1, Fortune had Bella Spumante relaxed a long way off the speed as Summer Cruise led the way from Blizzard Belle and Red Heart. La Rebel started her run down the inside and looked a winner in the final 100m as Summer Cruise plugged on.
Andrew Fortune – ice cool under pressure!
But Fortune had other ideas and he pressed the go button late to deliver Bella Spumante in the final stride to pip La Rebel, with Summer Cruise holding on for third ahead of a game Red Heart, who impressed at her first PE run.
The winner clocked a time of 58,46 secs and only 0,30 lengths covered the first four home.
The Snaith favourite Jo’s Bond was never sighted and ran out of the money.
Eros’s Girl reared badly as the stalls opened and must have given young rider Lyle Hewitson a massive fright. She lost lengths but was confirmed under starter’s orders. A tough call for her backers!
Bella Spumante has now won 4 from 14 starts with 4 places and took her stakes tally to R246 300.
The daughter of Dynasty started her career with a bang at Clairwood, winning her first start as a 2yo before an unsuccessful tilt on the riches of the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup.
She subsequently failed to live up to expectations but has renewed her enthusiasm for racing and should continue to earn in this centre.
Bella Spumante is owned by Delma Sherrell, Brian Fox , Dean Hayman and Ian Longmore, who was on course to lead his filly in.
The young Bella Spumante stretches out at the Ready To Run gallops
She was purchased by Brett Crawford for R250 000 off the 2013 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale
Bella Spumante was bred by The Alchemy and is a 4yo daughter of Dynasty out of the speedy two-time winning Argosy mare, Spumante.
