Steel rings loud

With 500 metres to travel around the tight Kilmore circuit, first starter Bells Of Steel was a distinct last in a field of nine.

Jockey Billy Egan produced a classic ride to weave between runners to land the mare a last-stride winner of the Plenty Valley Retirement Village Maiden (1457m).

Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, the four-year-old mare had been given five jump outs over a 12-month period to ready her for a racetrack debut.

Solid in the market at $3.80, Bells Of Steel scored by a nose from Giant’s Reprieve ($2.80 fav) with Empress Of The Sun ($17), a neck away third.

Egan gave the mare time to balance up early with the result she settled second last on the inside. When others started to make runs approaching the home turn, Bells Of Steel was a clear last with Egan left to determine how best to put the mare into the race.

He opted to look inside, and a run appeared one off the inside and he rode hard to push her through, and the mare responded to grab a last stride win.

Rayan Moore said Bells Of Steel was a promising mare with a nice future.

“Only a nose margin but we will take it today,” Moore said.

“She was really well ridden by Billy (Egan).

“Obviously, things were going a bit pear shaped at the top of the home straight, but he didn’t panic. He weaved his way through, and it was a really good win.

“Great to get a result for Marty and Glenn Heran, they have been really good supporters of the stable over the last few years.

“To win with this Dundeel mare on debut, I think there is a lot of upside.

“We had settled Bells Of Steel back in the field in a couple of jump outs and she has picked her way through the field, and that helped today.

“She balanced up really well and relaxed in the run.

“We know that she is a mare that when we can get her out to 10 furlongs (2000m), I think we are going to see a nice quality mare.

“She has been a bit immature coming through and we will send her back to Queensland to spell, and she has enjoyed her breaks up there.

“It was a great win today and a fantastic start to her career.”

Winning jockey Billy Egan said Bells Of Steel had found the line in great style.

“They said she was a little hot, so I snagged her straight away.

“The instructions were to give her a quiet first half, so I buried her away and she was nice and relaxed.

“Getting down the hill others started making their runs, but we had to bide our time. The favourite was in front of me so I thought we would take our chances and follow it through.

“She will take really good experience from today and will benefit a lot from it.

“She will get out further now having a nice, relaxed half in the first part of the race.”