Racing: Hill confident filly can win

Canterbury trainer Brendon Hill isn't sure just how good unbeaten filly Carabella is going to be, but he knows she is already good enough to win tonight's $100,000 NHT Sales Series Pace at Alexandra Park.

The special conditions race is the last $100,000 event of the harness racing season and victory for Carabella would cap an unbelievable year for Hill.

To many on the industry's fringe, Hill was all but unknown 18 months ago but that all changed when he became the fulltime trainer of Cavalla Bloodstock, owners of, among others, Monkey King and Baileys Dream.

Hill has been on a winning rampage with Monkey King this season and has established a wonderful strike rate but he said that victory tonight would be the perfect way to end his dream 12 months.

"It really has been an amazing year and if the little filly can win, that would cap it off."

His confidence is, understandably, high after Carabella overcame a few steering issues to blast past most of her rivals for tonight's feature in the prelude at Alexandra Park last Friday.

The way she won suggested only major improvement from her rivals will be good enough to beat her and her chances have improved even more after drawing barrier four in the 2200m event.

"That certainly helps because she will have gate speed," said Hill.

"And while I am not saying she is going to be a superstar filly, because you never know with youngsters, I think she showed last week she is better than most of these horses."

Carabella did so the hard way too, overcoming hanging around the last bend before gunning down her key rival tonight, Malak Uswaad.

Like many of the stock of Bettors Delight, Carabella is small but big on stamina, which is why Hill was so shocked at the speed she showed last Friday night.

"We have always thought she was a little stayer so I was a little surprised with the sprint she showed last week.

"She may still not be entirely comfortable right-handed but she isn't going to need to improve much to be the one to beat again on Friday."

Ricky May, who drove her to win on debut at Oamaru two starts ago, will return to the sulky, replacing new stable foreman Garrett Newton.

Malak Uswaad started favourite over Carabella last week but trainer-driver David Butt struggled to keep the colt's mind on the job.

He clearly has ability and will be the one to beat again, with last Friday's runner-up Nicky's Passion the other danger.

Meanwhile, Hill is already looking forward to next season and says while it will be hard to replicate the stable's form of this term he can only try.

"If I want to be a top trainer that is what I have to try and do, be consistent and have another good season.

"And we have some really nice horses to go on with."

Monkey King starts cantering work this week and Hill is thrilled with his condition.

"He has come back looking bigger and better than ever. I think that may mean he takes a little longer to come up to his peak this season but I'm really looking forward to next season with him."