Ten Bells during the race.
Ten Bells has made it 3 wins from 4 starts today with a .81 of a length win at the Tab Highway Class 2 Handicap at Randwick.
The 4 year old mare by Nicconi out of Decibeel has a number of well-known local names attached to its ownership syndicate as well as some owners from Goulburn and it looks as if the lightly raced mare will provide some good returns after she claimed $46,400 for her latest effort.
Scott Collings of Goulburn trains Ten Bells and she races in the traditional burnt orange silks with a black star, the favourite colours of part owner Nathan Schofield.
Found and purchased by fellow part owner Scott Henman for $11,000 at Murrumbateman, Ten Bells has now earned the syndicate $81,850 after today’s win.
She jumped from barrier 2 and kept an inside line. The favourite, ‘Battleground’, played up during the race under jockey James McDonald, however, it was the cool head of Jason Collett which was the difference in the end.
Ten Bells left the gates well and settled 6 off the lead on the rails, 5 lengths off the pace.
With 150 metres to go an opening on the rails allowed Ten Bells to completely let down and make up the final 3 lengths needed to take the win.
Ten Bells, first over the line at Randwick on Saturday August 21.
Nathan said, “She is a lightly raced mare now, she won as a filly in Wagga first start in her race and won on her last start as a filly on the 31st of July before she turned into a mare the next day. We took her to the Sapphire Coast after Wagga and she had a bit of that second up syndrome and didn’t go so good there, but first up again at Goulburn, she handled it and then on to the highway. Four starts, three wins now.”
Nathan said that all credit to take her to the Highway race so early in her career should go to Scott the trainer and his team. “They pulled the right rein there.” Said Nathan.
“Scott Henman handpicked her, she was for sale online. She was a bargain buy.”
Nathan said that the cheapest thing in racing is patience and that explains her small number of starts and allowing her time to develop.
He said, “There might be another Class 3 Highway over 1400 metres in the next few weeks. They might look down that path or keep her over the sprint distances.”
Top Jockey Blaike McDougall rode Ten Bells at Goulburn and advised the team that it was probably best to keep her over sprint distances while she is learning her craft.
Schofield also complimented Nick Heywood who rode her in her first start at Wagga, He said, “If you watch the race at Wagga he got her home.”
Connections will see how Ten Bells pulls up over the next couple of days before making the decision on the next race. One thing is for sure, they have a very good mare on their hands. The race caller said, “Ten Bells, Jason Collet Rocketing along the rails. They have a very good mare in their hands.”
