Balmont Girl responds to hurry-up in trial

Any doubts trainer Paula Wagg had about trialling Balmont Girl five days before her first-up stoush in Saturday’s Belmont Sprint were wiped by her effort at Belmont Park yesterday.

“I told Paddy (Carbery) to let her fall out of the gates because I could see there was a lot of pace,” Wagg said. “Bring her out wide in the straight and to let her know she is there over the last furlong (200m).

“He gave her a couple around the bum to let her know she was there for a hard trial.

“I was impressed with the way she got to the line.

“She really needed it because she had a really good blow after.

“I was undecided on trialling her five days before but I’m glad I did.”

Downtowntrain ran at breakneck speed to lead by four lengths at the 200m. Carbery settled Balmont Girl about eight lengths at the rear, before winding up the four-year-old mare and edge Bass Strait out of fourth place, three lengths behind the winner.

It was the four-year-old’s second trial over 1000m in the past fortnight.

Widely travelled apprentice Ryan Hurdle will take his first WA ride for his father Peter on Suarez in a 1650m handicap at Belmont tomorrow.

Hurdle used a scholarship he won in 2012, when apprenticed to his father in New Zealand, to ride for Queensland trainer Robert Heathcote.

He rode in Queensland for a year, then completed a stint in Victoria, before settling in South Australia.

Hurdle returned to the Sunshine Coast to win a heat of the National Apprentices’ Series on Mr Alfranco in March.

“The other part-owner Alister Smith in Suarez, also owned Aerosmith in NZ and Ryan rode winners for him over there.

“He said; “It would be a good opportunity to get Ryan across to ride the horse and to catch up.

“I haven’t seen him in about 18 months.

“Suarez has not had much luck at his two starts here.”