by Cody Winnell
Two regally related fillies will take winning form into next Saturday night’s $322,000 Australian Pacing Gold fillies final at Tabcorp Park Melton.
Tonight’s lead-up APG Semi-Finals at Victorian metro trots headquarters saw Fiore Stride and Molly Kelly do their families proud, both victorious ahead of the big dance.
Fiore Stride, whose dam Under The Mattress is best known for producing superstar Smolda, went 1:57.7 and defeated Mark Purdon-trained Just Makemine Diamonds tonight for reinsman John Caldow.
“She travelled nice in the run. The leader (Just Makemine Diamonds) was knocking off and not concentrating and to (Fiore Stride’s) credit she out-stayed them,” Caldow said.
Owner Emilio Rosati was on course at Melton to see his latest star stride to victory and the Cobbitty team behind the daughter of Art Major have reason to take confidence into next week.
But standing in the way of the Sydneysider capturing ‘belle of the ball’ status is Smythes Creek trainer Emma Stewart, whose two rising star fillies fought out the first of tonight’s Semi-Finals in a quicker time of 1:56.5.
Frith’s full-sister, Molly Kelly, by Four Starzzz Shark out of Jackie Kelly, defeated stablemate Nostra Beach in the finish by a head for reinsman Chris Alford.
And Alford drew comparisons between the fledgling filly and her mighty millionaire older sister.
“She’s a big raw girl … she’s like Frith in her early days. She used to gawk around a bit when Bruce used to drive her and this one’s a lot like her, so hopefully she can go on to have a career like she did,” Alford said.
“The run should do her good for next week.”
Alford had the choice of drive between Molly Kelly and Nostra Beach tonight and said the barrier draw was probably the only thing that gave Molly the nod. “Clayton (Tonkin) couldn’t separate them in trackwork but the draw probably helped me (make the decision),” he said.
Callmequeenbee ran third behind the Stewart stablemates in the first Semi, while Passions Delight, who was supreme in her heat win when holding the lead and copping pressure throughout, tonight was crossed early and finished third after travelling in the box seat throughout.
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