If ever a horse deserved to win a race it is Noelsgirl and connections were rewarded for their faith and patience when the three year old filly led throughout to record her first race win at Tattersall’s Park (Hobart) last Sunday night (7 August 2011).
Noelsgirl showed surprising pace from barrier two to clear the polemarker Trump Lady and lead. Driver Ricky Duggan then proceeded to control the 1609 metre race from the front. Noelsgirl ran away from the field over the last 200 metres to win by seven metres from Wundababe and Genuflect.
Noelsgirl was on her 22nd trip to the races with two seconds and five thirds from her previous starts. She found her way to the Justin Campbell stable at Plenty (near New Norfolk) in April this year. Her previous trainers were Dean Braun, Rohan Hillier and David Kelly.
Campbell likes the filly and was pleased to witness her trouble free run and subsequent win.
“She is a good little horse raced by a first rate group of owners who have had to be patient on the way to this win,” said Campbell.
“Noelsgirl ran third at her first start for me in May and I thought she would win the next week but a lack of gate speed and plain bad luck has delayed the win.”
Campbell added that a recent gear change has improved her gate speed.
“The addition of dolly varden blinkers a couple of starts back appears to have made a difference to her confidence. I thought she was a certainty after she led on Sunday night.”
Campbell has entered Noelsgirl at The TOTE Racing Centre (Launceston) this Sunday where she will start from barrier two on the second line (Race 4 at 6.14 pm) in a slightly stronger field. The plan is to race her through to the end of August to try and win her second penalty free three year old race. All going well, a two month spell will follow before a return to the races in December / January.
Noelsgirl is well bred being a daughter of the Perfect Blue Chip mare Ima Blue Bell who won four races from 15 starts. Her record at stud is more impressive as all of her four foals are winners. Ima Miss Molly was a star two year old winning nine races, Nitro Blue is well above average winning three two year old races this season and both Ima Blissful Bell and Noelsgirl are race winners.
Submitted by Kevin Neilson