Stable firing!

Both Ballymore stables have been in great form of late - Chad Ormsby in New Zealand cheering on three winners at Wednesday's Matamata meeting whilst at Ballarat on Thursday we saddled up a running double.

The first leg of that double was taken out by the lightly raced and exciting Sherbet Bomb who, at only her second start, was impressive taking out her maiden by a soft 2½ lengths.

Well fancied after an eye-catching debut seocnd at the same track three weeks previously, the daughter of Snitzel showed good natural pace to make the running from the outside gate.

Never looking in any danger of defeat, she kicked clear at the 200m - giving jockey Steven Arnold a very good feel.

"She gave a nice kick and she still has improvement in her," he said.

"I think she will run 1600m or 2000m on that - she has a good future."

A $150,000 Easter yearling for Paul Moroney, Sherbet Bomb is raced by Ballymore Stables (Aust) Pty Ltd, Gerard Van Ameyden, Samantha Nuttall, R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd (manager Rupert Legh), Peter Walker, R J Rice, the J'Raver Syndicate (manager R Johnston), A Rice and the ARK Syndicate.

Bred on the highly successful Danehill/Blushing Groom cross, she is the second foal produced by the NZ Oaks placegetter Lady Annaliese who went on to win at stakes level in the United States.

Paying a return visit to Snitzel last spring, Lady Annaliese is a half sister to the two times Listed winner Hinemoa from the family of Group One Telegraph Handicap winner Morar.

Just 45 minutes later and we were again in the winners stall, this time with another up-and-comer in Macpherson.

Stepping up to a mile for the first time, the Strada filly travelled nicely in fifth position for Luke Currie - responding well when he asked for her final effort in the straight.

Firstly wearing down the leaders and then dashing clear to win by 3¼ lengths, Macpherson still has, says Currie, plenty of scope to go on.

"She had a wander about the straight once she got to the front so she still has a bit to learn."

Currie had been confident of a bold showing by Macpherson who he rode to a fifth over 1450m at her previous start - "she really felt like she needed the mile," he said.

A bargain $18,000 Classic Sale pick-up for Paul, Macpherson is a well named daughter of the winning Thunder Gulch mare Mellow Elle.

Mellow Elle is one of six winners produced by the very good broodmare Bumps, a half sister to the Magic Millions winner Catnipped from the family of big race winners Brawny Spirit, Hit The Roof, Ivory's Irish and Reward For Effort.

Congratulations to Macpherson's happy owners Ballymore Stables (Aust) Pty Ltd, Jellis Craig Racing (manager Paul Keane), Romeo Di Pietrantonio, the Onamission Syndicate (manager Brent Chapman), Elisa Sturzaker and Malcolm Talbot.