Inexperienced but richly talented filly Bettathanlife is poised to qualify for the $150,000 WA Oaks on October 3 by winning the $50,000 Daintys Daughter Classic at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She was most impressive last Friday night, when at her third start in a race she began from barrier six in an Oaks prelude over 2536m and raced three wide for the first circuit and then in the breeze before taking a narrow lead on the home turn and being beaten by a short half-head in the final stride by Fakenit.
This followed Bettathanlife’s brilliant 11-length victory at a 1.56.8 rate over 2185m at Pinjarra eleven days earlier when she sprinted over the final 800m in 55.2sec.
“This looks a tough race,” said Bettathanlife’s trainer-driver Gary Hall jnr. “But she is versatile and will run well.” Bettathanlife will start from barrier five.
Hall has won the Daintys Daughter Classic with Majorly Foxy Styx in 2014 and Slick Artist in 2018, who were trained by his father, who has Fakenit in tremendous form and a major winning chance from the No. 4 barrier, with Maddison Brown in the sulky.
Ruby Lovera, trained by Justin Prentice, has won at six of her 15 starts and looks set to fight out the finish after drawing the prized No. 1 barrier. Hall has driven Ruby Lovera for three wins and two placings. She will be driven for the second time in a race by Kyle Harper, who guided her, as a $18 chance, to a half-neck win over the pacemaker and favourite Bettagetonpip in a Gloucester Park event on August 9 last year.
Trainer-reinsman Ryan Bell will be looking for a strong performance from Copper Head Lady, a winner at five of her ten starts and favourably drawn at barrier two.
Deni Roberts will drive Captainshavtime for champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, who have won the Daintys Daughter Classic with Dodolicious in 2016 and Turn the Page in 2023.
Roberts, who was in the sulky when Turn The Page was successful, said: “From barrier three we have a couple of good fillies drawn inside of us, but hopefully we will be able to slot in and be handy enough.
Veteran trainer Mike Reed, who has won the Daintys Daughter Classic with Sheer Royalty (2009) and Maczaffair (2017), will be pinning his faith in consistent filly Ruby Lou, who will need a bit of luck after starting from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line.
Bull Shark Betty, who will begin from the outside barrier on the back line for trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo, warmed up for Friday’s event with a strong-finishing effort when second to Boy Blue on Monday. “It was a good run, and she should go well,” said De Campo.
