Billabong Cindy off to the paddock after winning three in a row
WYONG trainer Ben Hill is confident his speedy filly Billabong Cindy is capable of pinching a race in town – but not before she heads out for a deserved spell.
The three-year-old has won her last three races in impressive front-running style, the most recent being over the 900m scamper on Saturday at Newcastle.
It was arguably her toughest test to date, coming up against some talented types including Nic’s Vendetta, a recent finalist in the Country Championships at Randwick, but Billabong Cindy ran her rivals off their feet when scoring by just under two lengths at the finish.
Hill, who only has five horses in work, says it was a big effort from the bonny brown filly.
“It was a quality race, but she liked the give out of the track and she has plenty of gate speed which really put her in the race,” Hill told Horse Betting.
“It was great to see – she travelled like a winner and really put them away – she knuckled down and showed some fight.”
Hill says the daughter of Snippetson and Burnley always showed plenty of ability, however it took her four starts to learn what the racing caper was about before stringing together her three wins.
“When we first started out with her we took her to Muswellbrook and Gosford and she was very green, but we knew she had some ability there.”
“We put her out for a spell and since she has come back she is a different filly – she has really filled out and she has got her mind on the job.
“I took her to Gosford first start back and she really needed the run, but since then she has really put it together.”
Hill said he believes Billabong Cindy will make it to town, but says she will now head out into the paddock for a short let-up.
“She has given me a good indication since the start – early on my first impressions were that she’d be able to pinch a mid-week city race and she is now living up to that.
“She’ll head out to the paddock for a month and then I’ll bring her back for a couple of runs on the provincials before going back for a proper spell.
“She’s been in the stables for a while now and while she is happy I want to keep her that way which is why I want to put her out.
“Next prep I think she’ll make it to town once she is older and more mature – I think she’ll really run out the 1100 after a spell.”