Like the vast majority of trainers, Morphettville conditioner and part-owner Will Clarken can only guess how Bella Vella may handle the Heavy Rosehill going in the Bisley Workwear-sponsored sprint feature at Rosehill, but is hoping there’s a clue in the mare’s background.
“She’s out of a mare called Forget The Weather and we’re hopeful she will handle the track,” he said. “She has raced on rain-affected ground, but it’s different running around in maidens than chasing down machines. She definitely does like to get her toe in the ground though.”
Bella Vella was originally bought out of Willow Park Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $100,000 by Paul Moroney and was a winner for his brother Michael before transferring to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s stable.
Bella Vella as a yearling
She won a race for them and during her time with Matthew Vella, before Clarken and partners purchased her for $22,500 at the 2019 Inglis Digital April Sale and a heart-warming tale subsequently rolled out.
Bella Vella has won seven times for Clarken, including last season’s G1 Robert Sangster S. and this term has added a victory in the G2 McEwen S. to her record. Time is ticking for the 6-year-old, who will be offered for Sale later this year.
“I get a bit emotional when I’m talking about her because she’s been such a success story for me,” he said.
“I get a bit emotional when I’m talking about her (Bella Vella) because she’s been such a success story for me.” – Will Clarken
“She will be going to the Magic Millions May Sale in the Glenesk Thoroughbreds draft of Brett Howard, who is a part-owner of the mare.
“She is beautifully-conformed and a jet-black daughter of Commands and she’ll carry a foal beautifully.”
Also placed in the G1 Moir S., Bella Vella finished well back in the Magic Millions Sprint but revived her Galaxy chances in one subsequent appearance at Randwick where she came from last to finish third behind Eduardo (Host {Chi}) and Nature Strip (Nicconi).
“She was coming off a bad run and she’s gone well. She’s done that before and has a tremendous will and want,” Clarken said.
“She was coming off a bad run and she’s gone well. She’s done that before and has a tremendous will and want." - Will Clarken
“With mares that are getting longer in life they can mix their form and it's whether they still want to do it, but she gave 110 per cent and you can’t knock her.
“When she does put in another really bad run we would probably pull up stumps and that would be it.”
Bella Vella’s aptly-named dam Forget The Weather (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}) is a half-sister to the stakes winners Wedlock (USA) (Maria’s Mon {USA}) and Ever After (USA) (Kris S {USA}).
There is an abundance of North American black-type form in her pedigree, including the four-time Group 1 winner Forever Together (USA) (Belong To Me {USA}) and the G2 Philip Iselin H. winner, Group 1 placegetter and sire Broken Vow (USA).
