Winning Horse: Zesty Belle (Aus)

3yoF Denman (Aus) - Autumn Zest (Aus)(King's Best (USA))

7 starts - 2 wins 1 second 2 thirds 1 fourth $128475

Other Wins

1st Mornington Mercedes-Benz Mdn Plate 1000m (2020)

Other Placings

2nd Sandown-Lakeside Good Health Mrs King Plate 1200m (2020)

3rd Sandown-Hillside Ladbrokes Odds Boost Exotics 1000m (2020)

3rd Flemington Schweppes Bagotville Hcp 1100m (2020)

Race Result:

1st: Zesty Belle (D Lane/M Ellerton & S Zahra) - $5.50EF

2nd: Malicorne (M Zahra/M Laurie) - $7.50
3rd: Miss Divine Em (T Hope/P Payne) - $19

Winning Time: 1:03.77 Last 600m: 34.49

Margins: 1¾L x L

Winning Trainer: Mat Ellerton & Simon Zahra (Simon speaking)

“She obviously wasn’t quite the furnished product last time in. She was doing a lot wrong. She’s had a good spell and has come back in awesome shape. Tuesday morning her work was outstanding shape and we thought it would probably take a good one to beat her.

Difference to last prep: “Just time. She was at her top for a lot of it last time and then when she came off the bridle she didn’t quite know what to do. We put her out and she spelled quite well. She’s come back a different filly. She’s always shown us good ability.”

What’s next: “She feels her knees a little bit. We were tempted to go to Caulfield last week but thought the straight probably suits her a bit, doesn’t have to get around a corner. Her action looked terrific up the straight and that’s a key to those sorts of horses. We’ll just plot a nice path and try and find a nice couple of races for her.”

Winning Jockey: Damian Lane

Managed to get to Perth and back: “Managed to get back to see the family. Not for too long. We got sent home by the government, unfortunately. We ended up with some nice time off so I was flag I got back to see the family.”

On Zesty Belle: “She went really well today. She looked really good in the yard. First-up, she probably took a little while to come to hand. At the trials and first-up she was a little dusty in the coat and a bit hairy. DIdn’t look like she was there yet but was still too good in (winning) her maiden.

“Looking at her today you can see she’s trained on. She improved on her maiden win and hopefully she can again after her win here.”