Beautiful Bella

Exabelle (4 m Exceed and Excel - Avabelle, by Zabeel) is one of the darlings in the Te Akau stable at Matamata, and received due reward when producing a smart performance to win the Benchmark 65 1600 metres on April 12 at Awapuni.

“She's a lamb,” said Te Akau assistant trainer Pam Gerard. “A bit of a stable pet really, where anybody can do anything with her and she is foolproof. She is a lovely mare to have around - eats, sleeps and very easy. She also has a lovely pedigree to get over more ground."

Capping solid form with a win at her fifth start in this preparation, Exabelle provided trainer Jason Bridgman with his fortieth win for the season.

“She hadn't had much luck from bad draws in her last couple of starts, and a filly that looks after herself on hard ground she really appreciated the cut in the track,” said Bridgman.

“She's two for two on dead ground now, which tells the story and providing we keep getting suitable tracks I see no reason why she can't go on with from here."

After pouncing out of the gates, Exabelle was steadied by jockey Matt Cameron to settle one off the fence in midfield on a moderate tempo. Straightening with work to do, she came after the leader at the 200 metres and got her head in front on the line.

On Dead6 footing, Exabelle ran the mile in 1:39.8 and returned handsomely on the NZ TAB; $6.20 & $2.60.

Owned by Chris Grace, Michael & Barbara Dowd, Aloka Racing Syndicate and Matt Jamieson, Exabelle was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis as a yearling for $65,000 from the draft of Rothwell Park at the 2010 Magic Millions Sale.

Of the filly, Ellis had said previously: “I love buying fillies out of Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mares, it's a huge help and Exceed and Excel (Danehill) is a great sire in Australia. The moment I bought her, my vet Douglas Black said he wanted to have a share."

Exabelle is from a top quality family bred by South Island racing stalwarts, Melba and her late husband Mick Murfitt. The pair owned Riccarton Stud and stood Palatable (Tom Rolfe), who sired her grand-dam Eye Full (the winner of 11 races including the Hawkes Bay Cup (Gr. 3, 2200m) and she finished second in the NZ Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m)). Exabelle is also from the family of Vision (Entrepreneur) and Gaze (Cape Cross), winner of the New Zealand Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m), both raced by Mrs Murfitt and the estate of her husband.

CREDIT - JEFF DORE  - PICTURE CREDIT - www.raceimages.co.nz