It was another family affair for rookie Toowoomba trainer Deborah Handford who celebrated her second city victory with My Bellydancer at Doomben.
My Bellydancer, ridden by Michael Hellyer, held on for a long neck win over Our Design in Wednesday’s Woolworths Handicap (1200m).
Hellyer is the son-in-law of Handford’s partner Col Parker who strapped My Bellydancer for her third victory in 17 starts.
The combination landed their first win together with Bold Option at Doomben in mid-December.
“Michael has ridden all my winners,” Handford quipped.
“He won on Bold Option and that was my first city winner since I began training about 12 months ago.”
Handford has been involved in racing most of her life and has been a resident of Toowoomba for the past 20 years where she currently runs a spelling and pre-training complex, Lauralle Lodge.
Handford was also a part-owner in $1 million earner Heart Of The Citi who claimed the Magic Million Trophy for trainer Pat Duff in 2008.
Meanwhile, trainer David Kelly plans a step up in class to Saturday opposition for Rioqualo following the gelding’s narrow win in the Ticketek Handicap (1040m).
Rioqualo held on to score by only a long head over the fast-finishing Snippets Secret but the margin could have been greater according to his jockey Daniel Griffin.
“He had plenty in reserve and could have won by more but he kept laying in,” Griffin said.
Kelly, who was a former Northern Rivers jockey, has built a strong team of 30 horses at the Gold Coast where he’s been based for the past three and a half years after moving from Eagle Farm.
Rioqualo recorded his fifth career win from 21 starts at only his second appearance this campaign.
The son of Sequalo, who was bred by Gold Coast businessman Larry Matthews, finished a creditable fourth to Spirit Of Flatley in his comeback over 1010 metres at Doomben on February 18.
“He was a tad unlucky that day when he got checked out of the race,” Kelly said.
“He took a lot of benefit from it and delivered the goods today.
“He’s been a nice horse for his owners and I want to try him now on a Saturday and step him up to 1200 metres.”
Griffin, who does most of Kelly’s riding on the Gold Coast, had no doubt Rioqualo would handle the progression to 1200 metres in tougher Saturday company.
