Racing: Sophia Babe confirms recent form

Sophia Babe gets up to beat her trackmate Zarzuela in the Great Northern Guineas Prelude at Ellerslie. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Trainer Mark Walker and rider James McDonald viewed the official video footage of the final stages of yesterday's $45,000 Mad Butcher Guineas Prelude at Ellerslie before deciding not to protest against the winner, Sophia Babe.

Sophia Babe raced greenly, taking the line of fast-finishing runner-up Zarzuela.

Walker emerged from the judicial room shaking his head at the question of whether he woulld protest.

"No, there's not enough in it and, anyway, I need to get a lift home with Scotty."

Walker was referring to fellow Matamata trainer Andrew Scott, who was thrilled with Sophia Babe.

"She's a big, green, staying filly with a lot of ability," said Scott.

The horseman knew the Australian-bred filly was smart when she was beaten only a long neck and a short head at Otaki on debut.

He was even more certain of his filly with subsequent results by the pair that beat her that day. Eileen Dubh won the recent group one Levin Classic and King's Ransom is the group two winner of the Wakefield Stakes.

In praising the ability of Sophia Babe, Scott failed to mention his own talents in getting the filly to win over 2100m in her first start in six weeks.

Kevin Algie, who races Sophia Babe with Michael Head, bought the filly at the Magic Millions Queensland sale.

Sophia Babe has a future and, unquestionably, so does Zarzuela, whose final 200m was hugely impressive. A stride or two more and she would have won.

Mark Walker did not have quite the same satisfaction with the performance of well-fancied last-start winner Martial Art, who trailed the leaders to the home turn and only battled in the closing stages to finish fourth.

Haere Mai fought bravely for third after sitting outside the pace.

Rider Michael Coleman was very surprised at the time Monaco Consul ran in an exhibition gallop between races at Ellerslie.

Going solo, the A$1.5 million Victoria Derby winner clocked 1:01 for his last 1000m when essentially out only for a three-quarter pace workout.

"He's very deceptive. I didn't think he was running that sort of time," said Coleman.

Co-trainer Paul Moroney was delighted.

"He's not far away. The big plus was he has a good gawk around for another look at Ellerslie."

Katie Lee's little sister Banchee became an instant headline with a stunning debut win at Ellerslie yesterday.

Banchee looked a coming topliner in overcoming an early check to run away from the opposition in the $10,000 Coca-Cola 2YO.

Rider Vinny Colgan said that when Banchee had her momentum checked early he said to himself: "Right, let's see how good she is."

Colgan discovered and agrees with everyone who watched the race - very good.

Banchee is raced by Stampede Ltd, which has prominent Hastings owner Sam Kelt involved. Mark Baker of Hallmark Stud, which presented both Katie Lee and Banchee to the sale ring, said Banchee went through the ring for $375,000.

Yesterday, he got only $5900 of that back, but there's a lot more to come.

Beautiful Girl guaranteed herself a place in the $200,000 Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on January 1 with victory yesterday.

The highly talented Avondale mare made the field for the recent Concorde and may well have made the Railway line-up, but on yesterday's 86 rating may not have.

Now she's assured of a run and a big chance.

Yesterday, Beautiful Girl overcame being seriously held up for racing room in the home straight to burst through along the inside and win comfortably enough to allow Leith Innes to pose for the finish photographers.