Ken Casellas | PACEPIX
Sensational filly Wishing Belle is firmly on target for the $215,000 Westbred Classic on September 5 after she continued on her winning ways with a devastating victory in the Group 2 Trotsynd Diamond Classic for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“She is set for the Westbred,” said ace trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo after driving the daughter of American sire Bettors Wish to her two-length win over Crunchnsip, rating 1.57.6 over the 2130m journey.
“It was relatively easy tonight. She had all the favours, burning straight to the front and getting away with a bit early.
“She is the full package. As a two-year-old she doesn’t do anything wrong. She doesn’t fire up or get keen. She is a pleasure to train and is getting better and better all the time. Credit is due to Ajay Markham, who has done most of the work with her, coming through as a yearling.”
Wishing Belle, the $1.30 favourite, dashed straight to the front from the No. 6 barrier, and she ambled through the lead time in 37.9sec. and the opening quarters in 31sec. and 30.3sec. before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.4sec. and 28sec.
Crunchnsip ($9) fought on doggedly, while the $8.50 second fancy Im Category Five was a fighting third after working hard out wide early and then in the breeze.
Wishing Belle, purchased by De Campo for $55,000 at the 2024 Perth APG yearling sale, and raced by a syndicate of several of his stable’s clients, has earned $145,931 from six wins and a second placing from seven starts.
She is following in the footsteps of her dam Libertybelle Midfrew, whose one win from eleven New Zealand starts was in the $156,000 NZ Sales final for two-year-old fillies when she beat Te Amo Bromac by five lengths at Alexandra Park in April 2013.
Libertybelle Midfrew raced 40 times in Western Australia for 18 wins and ended her career with a fine record of 51 starts for 19 wins, 11 placings and earnings of $640,497.