BEFANA made a dynamic debut for her new trainer Lindsay Hatch when she sped away with the Fillies and Mares Class 1 Handicap (1100m) at Ipswich yesterday.
In a positive sign following a recent change of scenery to Hatch's Toowoomba stable, the fast finishing mare produced her trademark sprint to claim her second career win by a comfortable margin.
Hatch, a long-term associate of fellow Toowoomba boy and Strong Bloodstock trainer Tony Gollan, has built a strong reputation for getting the best out of his runners as witnessed by Jadentom, who won last year’s Listed Weetwood Handicap and earned more than $500,000 before being retired.
BEFANA was ridden a treat by Andrew Mallyon, who was also on board for her breathtaking win on debut at the Sunshine Coast in March 2020, when she flew home from 10th at the 400m mark.
While yesterday’s win wasn’t quite as eye-catching as that dream debut, the manner in which she pulled away from the field in the closing stages gave our partners plenty to cheer about.
The victory took BEFANA’s career earnings to $55,000 which, coincidentally, is the precise amount she was bought for at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
Congratulation to her owners: C J McKerr, M Gibbons, Mrs N Fusco, G D Griffiths, M D Leitch, T McCabe, C D McGuire, G M Simcoe, A D Taylor, S Koutoufides, D Lee, B Howell & Ms J A McDonald.
WATCH THE WINNING REPLAY BELOW