McDonald To Shout Bingo At The Valley
- Friday, 02 July 2010 00:51
A debut in the Arrowfield Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) is a pretty clear indication that trainer Clinton McDonald has quite an opinion of his two-year-old filly Bingo Betty.
A graduation to city class racing after a first-up failure at Swan Hill only reinforces that McDonald has better races in mind for the daughter of Fastnet Rock, starting with Saturday's $70,000 Become A MVRC Member Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
McDonald acknowledged that not everything went to plan when the filly debuted at listed level earlier this year but that she had spelled well and shown enough to warrant metropolitan racing this time in.
"She got caught five wide on debut had no luck and pulled up shin-sore so we sent her straight to the paddock," McDonald said.
"Her work has been good this time in and she probably needed the run first up but ran well and has really come on."
Having met older mares first up McDonald believes a return to two-year-old company coupled with a wet surface will further increase the fillies chances.
"She is back to her own age and down in the weights on Saturday."
"She also loves the wet and will thrive in the heavy which will be a big advantage I think."
Bingo Betty was purchased for just $60,000 at the 2009 Melbourne Premier Sale, a relatively inexpensive price tag for such a well bred filly, something McDonald puts down to her appearance.
"We picked her up for $60,000 at the Melbourne Premier Sale which was probably because she is quite a big, ugly horse, with a parrot mouth," laughed McDonald before adding, "She does have a beautiful big stride though."
Bingo Betty is a half sister to the well performed Dalooka and is quoted a $26 chance with TAB Sportsbet with Glen Boss to ride from barrier three.
Photo by Quentin Lang
