Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes admitted to being a bundle of nerves before Croatian Belle headed out for her second race start at Moonee Valley.
A debut winner at the track on December 16, Croatian Belle kept her record intact with victory in the Summer Membership On Sale Now Handicap (1000m) on Saturday.
And the victory sealed a trip to the Gold Coast for Croatian Belle to run in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on January 14 with the filly booked to fly out on Tuesday.
Sent out the $2.50 favourite under Michael Dee, Croatian Belle scored a three-quarter length win over Extremely Wicked ($3.70) with Corniche ($6.50) a further 2-¾ lengths away third.
Croatian Belle is owned by an all womans syndicate that was put together by Hayes’ partner Grace Ramage and will be racing for an extra $500,000 if she is the first all-female-owned horse across the finishing line.
“I was under a lot of pressure today,” Hayes said.
“All Grace’s family, my aunty are in the horse. I was very nervous and had a dry mouth, so I’m glad it worked out and we can go to Gold Coast and have a lot of fun.”
Croatian Belle was also an acceptor for the New Year Sprint (1000m) at Flemington on Sunday and Hayes admitted he thought long and hard which race to run in.
Despite taking on the ‘boys’ and conceding the runner-up 3.5kg, Hayes said he was vindicated in making the decision to run at Moonee Valley.
“There was a couple of factors why we came here,” Hayes said.
“Yes, she had more weight, but Moonee Valley is a bit like the Gold Coast, a tight track.
“We also have an extra day recovery, she flies on Tuesday, and I thought it was the ideal race.
“Luckily we just won.”
Hayes does not see racing right-handed being a concern for the filly at the Gold Coast as she does all her slow work at Lindsay Park’s Euroa complex on her Sydney leg.
“We’ll do a couple of gallops up there before the race and trust her,” Hayes said.