By Glenn Davis
Trainer Stu Kendrick believes Italia Bella can end a 12-month losing streak when she lines up for a third time this campaign at the Sunshine Coast on Friday night.
Italia Bella, a Jim Byrne mount, has had two starts this time in with her latest effort a close-up sixth to the Mick Lakey-trained Enterprise Prince in a Class Three Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on August 28.
Although the five-year-old hasn’t won since beating Looks Like Elvis in Class Three grade at Doomben in July last year, Kendrick is hopeful she can regain her best form despite a step up in grade to a Class Four Handicap (1400m).
Kendrick resisted the temptation to claim on Italia Bella who is second topweight with 59kgs.
“She’s a big strong girl, so 59kgs won’t worry her and I was happy to keep a senior on her,” said the six-time Caloundra premiership winning trainer.
Italia Bella was regarded as an Oaks prospect early in her career but failed to live up to her promise due to injury.
By Fastnet Rock, Italia Bella is a daughter of Pear Tart who won the 2012 Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara.
Italia Bella was placed in the Group 2 Champagne Classic and Listed The Phoenix at Doomben as a two-year-old during the Brisbane winter carnival in 2017.
“We thought she might be an Oaks filly early on as she’s well bred being out of Pear Tart,” Kendrick said.
“But we never got the opportunity to get her up in distance.
“I still think she’ll run 1600 to 2000 metres.”
Kendrick had interstate plans in mind for Italia Bella before she injured her back when fourth to Gold Ambition at Doomben in August last year.
“She hurt her back and had to go to the paddock in her last Brisbane run last year then she hurt a splint just when she was ready to start up again,” he said.
“She had to have surgery to remove parts of her splint bone and it’s been a long road to recovery.
“This race on Friday night will give us a good guide where to go with her and hopefully we can start to get her up in distance.”
Racing Queensland webnews September 5