3 minute read

Smart filly Hallowell Belle returns to town and looks the horse to beat in today's Listed Adapt Australia Crockett Stakes (race 5) at Moonee Valley.

The filly, prepared by leading trainer Peter Moody, ran three superb races as a juvenile but turned three a maiden.

So Moody took her to the country for a “kill” and she returns to the city in today's Listed race over 1200m for fillies.

Hallowell Belle is a daughter of Starcraft from the Beautiful Crown mare Bella Inez, who only started once on the track but is a half to Group 1 winner In Top Swing.

This filly made her debut up in Sydney for trainer Gai Waterhouse in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes where she drew wide but showed good pace to sit third.

She turned there and battled away to finish runner-up behind Defiant Dame before going for a spell and switching stables.

After winning a Cranbourne trail the filly kicked off for Moody in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude.

She settled sixth and didn't have much room there on the inside but hit the line well to finish a close-up third in an eye-catching run.

She then went into the Group 1 Blue Diamond and settled off the speed on the inside.

While Sepoy sat outside the lead before racing away, Hallowell Belle was buried closer to the inside but once out in the open ran on better than anything and finished runner-up.

The form through the Diamond is excellent including Sepoy going on to win the Golden Slipper.

Hallowell Bell went for her winter break but rather than return in the top races Moody decided to send her to the bush to give her a taste of success and a nice start to her spring campaign.

He chose Seymour not only for this filly but three other stablemates, with all bar one winning on the day.

Hallowell Belle raced over 1109m and after sitting fourth ambled up to third turning before running on for a long neck win.

It wasn't by a space as her betting suggested she would but she did all she had to do and did it comfortably.

Today the filly returns to the tougher races but she does look well placed here in this feature race for fillies.

All bar four are resuming so she has one fitness run on most of the winning chances, and she will appreciate the longer journey.

The filly has drawn wide but there should be a strong early pace via a host of pace runners.

From the gate she'll be sitting off the strong speed and looking to circle the field on the camber on the bend.

Ratings wise she has the form on the board from her juvenile year and looks the one to hold out.

Sweet Ella is unbeaten from two career runs and trainer Greg Eurell would have been anxious to get her back for the spring.

The filly, a daughter of Niello, made her debut on her home track over 1000m and after sitting back ran away with a soft win.

She then came to town over 1200m at Betfair Park Lakeside in heavy ground, where she raced fourth but loomed up at the top of the straight and ran right away to score by 3.3 lengths.

Eurell put the filly away and waited for the spring, but she has won a trial at home leading into today's race.

She settles well, has a good turn of foot, still has untapped upside and handles soft ground so would be expected to prove a strong chance if she is to measure up to better races this time in.

Manhattan Maid and Secret Status have intertwined form in Adelaide as juveniles and should run forward races.

Secret Status was an impressive winner on debut then stepped into the Listed Dequetteville Stakes at Morphettville and had little luck, finishing a close-up third.

Manhattan Main won the race by leading throughout.

Manhattan Maid is a straightforward filly who will jump and run here and give a big sight.

She is yet to run a bad race and should be in this for a long way.

Secret Status on the other hand may have more upside, especially heading towards the Thousand Guineas.

Today you'd imagine she'll settle off the good speed but will be hitting the line hard.

Triple Asset was super honest through a long juvenile year and pretty much her form is there for all to see.

She won the Adelaide Magic Millions, the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders at Flemington and then Group 3 Jansz at Morphettville before struggling at the 1400m of the Sires.

She probably can't go much better but is super honest and should more than pay her way through fillies races over the spring