By MIKE DILLON
Attitude is what separates the best fillies from the ordinary.
Look at Sunline and Showella, neither of whom you would talk to if they were human.
Winning rider Noel Harris is delighted Lindauer Guineas Trial winner Ballina Kate is another who would rather knock you out of the way than give you a pleasant nod.
"She has always had a bit of fizz about her," said Harris after Ballina Kate had outbobbed Mi Centie to take a dramatic victory at Ellerslie on Saturday, showing yet again that the 3-year-old fillies are very strong.
Harris said that last week's Highview Stakes winner Singalong had surprised him with a turnaround mental approach.
"Last season I thought she was too quiet, but she was certainly a different horse when I climbed on her at Hastings last week.
"When I got in the saddle, her eye was bright, her coat perfect and when I went down in her preliminary she felt like she had so much grunt, if I had had a cellphone I would have made a call and backed her with my life.
"She had switched completely in her approach."
Singalong proved that with a storming finish from the tail to take the Highview.
Ballina Kate has a lot to learn about racing and is running on natural ability.
"She nearly cost herself that race," said a relieved Harris when Ballina Kate landed a nose decision.
"She was going to run past the other horse and win by half a length and the minute she edged past the other horse, she stopped."
If there is improvement in Ballina Kate's approach, there is even more improvement in Mi Centie's fitness.
She was bolting under Leith Innes on the home bend and quickly went ahead, giving Ballina Kate the last run at her.
She looked momentarily like she might hold on, then ran out under pressure from the 150m to the point the placings would have been a good bet to change had she edged out Ballina Kate.
Innes thought Mi Centie had come back and won, but moderated his disappointment with reality.
"Being beaten in a photo is better than winning the race and losing it in the judicial room.
"She will improve a huge amount with that. She has still got a long winter coat," added Innes.
Harris believes Ballina Kate will be at her best up to 1600m, while he rates her Stephen Autridge-trained stablemate Singalong as a likely Oaks horse.
Ballina Kate and Singalong will clash in the $60,000 Lindauer Guineas at Ellerslie on October 7, rather than take on the fillies' series.
"I left where Ballina Kate ran to her owner Bruce Douglas and he wants her to have a crack at the Guineas."
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