Racing: Ground key for Bavella

Bavella was an impressive winner of her first two starts. Photo / Race Images

Trainer Lance Noble is pleased with smart two-year-old Bavella heading into Saturday's Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni and he is hopeful the weather will play its part.

The daughter of Snitzel, raced by Cambridge Stud proprietors Brendan and Jo Lindsay, was an impressive winner of her first two starts, including success in the Listed Splice Construction 2YO (1100m), before being thwarted by rain-affected going in her past two starts.

Bavella finished sixth in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m) on a Slow7 surface and fourth behind Saturday's rivals Yourdeel, Aalaalune and Aretha in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) on a Heavy10.

"She has done really well and we are happy with her," Noble said.

"Those two wet tracks with the Matamata Breeders' and Sistema just weren't to our liking so we are hoping for better track conditions down at Awapuni.

"I think she would handle a little bit of rain but I think on a better track you will see her really quicken. That might bring those three that have finished in front of her back to her a little bit. She wasn't far away at Ellerslie but I think to see her best we do need good ground."

Saturday's contest will see the juveniles stretched over 1400m for the first time. "Going over 1400m for the first time holds a little bit of concern but I could say that in the Sistema with how that track was and how wide they were coming she almost went 1400m," Noble said.

"I think that on a good track 1400m should be okay. If it got too wet it might make it a bit testing for her."

Retained rider Leith Innes will again be aboard Bavella as she looks to add further black-type.

"Leith galloped her on Tuesday morning and was very happy with her so it is all systems go," Noble said.

"I think if she can get a cosy trip just in behind them or up on the speed I think we could really see her accelerate from there."

● The Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard stable are likely to have a decent team aimed at Queensland this winter including multiple Group winner Pinmedown.

"I was going to bring Pinmedown over for the Adrian Knox and Nerve Not Verve that also ran in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m), but I am probably going to leave them till Queensland now," Moroney said.

"On The Rocks will join them in Queensland. And so will She's A Thief."

Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes

$225,000, 2YO, 1400m, G1

1. Yourdeel (5) Opie Bosson (56.5) $2.00 $1.24

2. Equinox (1) Johnathan Parkes (56.5) $7.00 $2.15

3. The Fugitive (11) Chris Johnson (56.5) $23.00 $4.60

4. Holy Mongolemperor (8) Troy Harris (56.5) $12.00 $3.00

5. Qiji Spirit (3) Jonathan Riddell (56.5) $51.00 $7.50

6. Aalaalune (7) Reese Jones (54.5) $6.00 $1.90

7. Aretha (9) Craig Grylls (54.5) $11.00 $2.80

8. Bavella (2) Leith Innes (54.5) $11.00 $2.80

9. Bella Mente (4) Samantha Collett (54.5) $26.00 $5.00

10. First Rock (6) Robert Hannam (54.5) $26.00 $5.00

11. Glinda Goodwitch (10) Lisa Allpress (54.5) $61.00 $8.50

- NZ Racing Desk