Belle Society 22/10/2008

Hibbs, Moor Double at Ballarat

Trainer Michael Hibbs and jockey Daniel Moor had a reason to smile after Belle Society and Keeping Score both recorded wins at Ballarat this afternoon.
For the Cranbourne based trainer, today's modest provincial meeting could have uncovered a couple of stars for the future with Belle Society winning the Ballarat Come To Life Maiden (1200m) at her first outing.
Belle Society ($26 - $21) piloted by lightweight jockey Daniel Moor, finished over the top of Ossie Embrace ($5-$4.60) to secure victory by one and a quarter lengths ahead of massive betting ring drifter Miss Bianco ($9-$18) a further two and a quarter lengths back
The debutant didn't have it all her way after covering ground from barrier nine, sitting five wide with cover just off the speed.
However Moor wasn't concerned with the extra ground covered by Belle Society.
"There's only one turn here at Ballarat so I wasn't extremely worried about being wide. Just as long as my filly was happy, and she was, everything was going well," Moor said.
When taken to the extreme outside Belle Society, no relation to 2004 Thousand Guineas placegetter Ballet Society, sprinted quickly to stop the clock at 1:11.11 for six furlongs.
Moor was surprised with the ease in which Belle Society prevailed.
"To be perfectly honest, she impressed actually."
"She shown me a little bit on the track and a little bit in trials but I didn't expect her to put pay to them like she did today," Moor said.
Belle Society is bred by a Bel Esprit mare, and is the first of her progeny.
For the dam Tendency, the fillies and mares program at Ballarat proved one to remember with youngest sister Ta Ta For Now greeting the judge first in the fourth event on the card, Mantra Hotels Maiden Plate (1600m).
Tendency's siblings include the stakes placed Sipowitz, which boasts $106,230 in prizemoney from 27 starts.
Keeping Score completed the double for the Hibbs and Moor combination after tasting triumph for the second time this preparation in the Ustinov Standing At Milford Thoroughbreds (0-78) Handicap.