La Bella Roo 27/11/2008

Roo boys in raptures
ADAM BOURKE
28/11/2008 8:50:00 AM
KANGAROO Flat Bowls Club members will have an extra spring in their step when they take to greens around central Victoria tomorrow.
A group of pennant and social bowlers from the club own smart filly La Bella Roo which won its second race from as many starts at the Bendigo Jockey Club yesterday.
Trained on the track by Peter Boynton, La Bella Roo looks to have a smart future for the Roo Bowlers Racing Syndicate.
Winning jockey Dean Holland sported the Kangaroo Flat green and white silks as the three-year-old filly won the McKern Steel 0-68 Handicap (1100m) impressively from Johnny Fiasco and Swirly Dream.
Prominent Bendigo businessman and long-time horse owner Terry Hurford purchased the daughter of Bel Esprit for the bargain price of $2200.
“I thought the horse would be $15-20,000 and would be too much for what these guys wanted,’’ Hurford admitted yesterday.
“But we got her for $2200 (from Glenfern Park Stud) and she’s showing a lot of promise.
“The horse had been in work for Colin Little, but he’d told the owner that she’d never win a group race.
“The owner decided to sell her and I bought her sight unseen.
“She was very small when we got her, but she’s filled out with the work Peter has given her.
“There’s about 15 of us in the syndicate and for a lot of the guys it’s the first horse they’ve ever owned.
“They think this horse owning caper is easy. It just shows how lucky you can be with such a cheap buy.’’
La Bella Roo won on debut at Echuca by five lengths and Boynton was hopeful the filly would handle the step up in class yesterday.
“I thought she did a great job because she probably hit the front too soon and she was left a sitting duck for something to run over the top of her,’’ he said.
“I thought it was a strong field, so for her to take care of them is impressive.’’
Boynton and the Roo Bowlers Racing Syndicate will now head to Melbourne with La Bella Roo.
“There’s a race at the night meeting at Moonee Valley (December 12) and one the next day (at Flemington) that we’ll have a look at,’’ he said.
Boynton stopped short of comparing La Bella Roo with his smart sprinter Spectacular Saint.
“They’re totally different horses,’’ Boynton said.
“He (Spectacular Saint) is still the stable star.’’