Sky wins Southern Belle heat

Bruce Stewart Journalist

It wasn’t an easy watch, however the Katrina and John Price trained Chicago Sky (Bettor’s Delight) held on to win heat three of the SSBA Southern Belle Speed Series at Gore today.

Driver Brent Barclay ran Chicago Sky out of the gate early before handing up to Anita Mary.

“She’s got good gate speed so she aways gets out good if she needs to,” John said.

Coming up the passing lane it looked like Chicago Sky was going to clear out for an easy win.

“She knocked off. She just needs to get there at the end and she’ll never run away from them.”

The winning margin was a neck from a late charging Ebony Arden with Snap Shot another neck back in third.

The winning time was 2-02.5 - a mile rate of 1-55.9.

The Prices have been avid supporters of the Southern Belle Speed Series and in Chicago Sky they look to have an ideal finals candidate.

“It’s a great series and we have to look after our mares for the future of breeding down here.”

John says Chicago Sky will have her next start in the $40,000 Group Three Champagne Stakes at Wyndham next Sunday (29^th).

“Ruby Roe (also owned by the Prices) will be back for that and will probably have too much class. But we’ll see.”

Chicago Sky ran fourth in the G1 Nevele R Fillies Series Final and third in the G1 New Zealand Oaks to round out her three year old season. She has now won four of her sixteen starts.

“She’s improved a lot since her three year old year. Going to Addington at the end of last season was the making of her. She’s come back a lot better and a lot stronger.”