Bonnie At Flemington

Talented mare Bonnie Belle (pictured) is looking for a change of luck when she contests the Rivette Series Final at Flemington on Saturday.

Unfortunately again drawn out wide, the three-year-old does however again have the services of Glen Boss and a couple of early scratchings have seen her come

in bit closer.

A filly who has caught the eye at each of her three Australian starts, Bonnie Belle has been unlucky not to have finished even closer up than she has - two starts ago at Flemington badly held up for much of the straight whilst at her most recent outing at Pakenham she had to be steadied off heels at a vital stage.

"We have been very happy with her since her last run," Michael Moroney reported, adding that "and the mile is going to really suit her now."

"She keeps drawing badly but she has just kept improving."

Whilst not wanting the going too wet for Bonnie Belle, Moroney will be happy with any rain about for the stable's other Flemington runner About Square.

Taking his place in the All Victorian Sprint Series Final, the five-year-old strips fitter for his pleasing first up fifth at Flemington last month.

"He wants the 1200m now," Moroney said, adding that "any rain about would bring him right into contention."

"He has won on soft going over the trip at Flemington," he said, noting that with 54kg About Square "is a nice lightweight chance."

We also have three runners at the Victorian provincial meetings on Sunday kicking off with Lord Barrington who lines up in the Bidmade Handicap over 1400m at Warrnambool.

"He was a bit disappointing last start," Moroney conceded, "but he was only just beaten at Warrnambool previously."

"We have put the blinkers on to sharpen him up a bit and if he brings his track work to the races he'd be very hard to beat."

Damien Oliver takes the ride on Lord Barrington who has drawn nicely in barrier two.

Our other Warrnambool runner is Zazparella who races in one of the feature events of the day, the Francis O'Rourke Memorial Handicap.

Close up at her last couple of runs, the five-year-old ran a great race when she last travelled to Warrnambool and Moroney is pleased by the prospect of a significantly rain affected track.

"The rain suits and she is a pretty handy mare in this sort of class."

"And with the claim of Jake Bayliss she has a nice pull in the weights."

Meanwhile we have a runner in the Warracknabeal Cup, Nordic Duke to be ridden by Dean Holland "who knows the track well."

"He was very good winning at Sale last start and he has trained on well."

"It looks an even sort of race and he relishes heavy going. We are confident that he can finish right in the thick of things again."

In other Ballymore news we were delighted by the run of the promising Bartel at Newmarket on Thursday.

Tackling some smart gallopers in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, the lightly raced three-year-old was a highly competitive second in a race sure to prove a strong form reference.

"He just wanted to over-race a bit," said Moroney, "and Craig Williams noted that about him at his previous start at Ascot also."

"He is a horse with good ability, he is just going to take a bit of making into a racehorse."