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Clarken Racing | Clarken Racing News 53102 Bella Vella Back In Work For Now

Bella Vella back in work, for now

Bella Vella back in work, for now

Group 1 winner Bella Vella is back in work after a failed spring in the breeding barn was followed by a clear desire from the mare to try again as a racehorse, however brief the comeback might be.

Purchased by Rosemont Stud for $1.9 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale last May, Bella Vella was serviced three times by I Am Invincible in the spring and, for no identifiable reason, did not get in foal.

"When you purchase a mare for that sort of money with the view to get babies out of her, you want babies out of her, so it would be fair to say, we were pretty flat," Rosemont director Anthony Mithen said.

"She was only retired because the breeding season was coming up, it wasn't through injury or lack of form, so we thought, 'Do we have a bit of a look'?"

From there Bella Vella was sent to pre-trainer Brad Pearson at Barwon Heads for some very light duties to see how she responded.

"It's a bit like pulling the early 30s footballer out of retirement and just sit him in the forward pocket and see what happens," Mithen said.

"Soon Brad was ringing and saying that she was looking to do more, come out of the forward pocket and move up the ground a bit, if you will.

"That was when I was able to make the happy phone call to Will Clarken to ask if he would like to take over the reins of Bella Vella again."

Clarken and a handful of others purchased the mare at an Inglis Digital Sale in 2019 for just $22,500 and thereafter she went from a handicap rating in the low 70s to a G1 winner with victory in the 2020 Robert Sangster Stakes.

Her value skyrocketed, prompting Rosemont to pay the big bucks for her two years later.

"We're still very much in the thought process that she's only a bad gallop or bad trial away from being retired again and back on the green grass of Rosemont," Mithen explained.

"Whilst she continues to do everything right, that little May Carnival with the Sangster Stakes is staring us in the face and might be an option.

"She is a racehorse and she never lost the zest to race."

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One of the finds of the autumn returns to the races this weekend with endless possibilities ahead of a spring campaign. South Australian filly Kuroyanagi was somewhat of a surprise packet rocketing into Blue Diamond calculations after a scintillating jump out at Murray Bridge and eventually ran third in the two-year-old classic behind winner Hayasugi and runner-up Lady Of Camelot who would go on to win the Golden Slipper. Those form lines have trainers Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea brimming from ear to ear as spring nears. “She’s the most exciting horse we have, she could be absolutely anything,” O’Shea said. “It’s great to have her back, we’re delighted with the way she’s been going, hopefully we can kick off her preparation on the right note.” The $390,000 daughter of Written Tycoon resumes in the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) for two and three-year-old gallopers at Morphettville this Saturday off a trial at Balaklava which featured talented open class horses. “She was in pretty good company that day and she’s worked well since then so she’s on the right track,” O’Shea said. “It would be great to win but obviously it’s hard against the older horses, first up, and on presumably testing ground.” When looking ahead at the spring calendar, O’Shea says there are many races suitable for Kuroyanagi, but one thing needs to be determined first. “I don’t really think anyone knows what her best trip is yet,” O’Shea said. “You’d assume she gets 1400m no worries but the way her action is you’d say she could be a Guineas filly, but then she’s also got a lot of speed so she might not want that far. “That’s something we’ll have to figure out or let us tell her, so we won’t be making any firm plans.” Kuroyanagi is an $8 chance to win the Thousand Guineas in November with Sportsbet. Clarken and O’Shea also have Hajra and Desert Dancing nominated for the Lightning Stakes.

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Kuro's low-key return

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