BELLABROOK highlighted Chloe Baker’s blossoming career as a jockey after the Newcastle mare surged from back in the field to win the Quast Quality Products Maiden Plate (1600m) at Tamworth on Monday.
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The Steve Hodge-trained daughter of Hinchinbrook finished too powerfully for her opposition to secure a good win from Stirling Osland’s Acraman while Jeremy Sylvester’s Tangarra Express was third.
It was Bellabrook’s first win from 11 starts to go along with five placings.
“She won well,” Hodge said.
Apprentice jockey Baker, indentured to Wayne Wilkes at Taree, had moved to Newcastle on loan with Hodge earlier in the year but had to move back when her father took ill.
Baker has been riding work in Newcastle for Hodge and Paul Perry and has a bright future down there if she can make it full time and Hodge was a fan of her ride at Tamworth.
“Well ridden too. Chloe rides well and has ridden a few winners in the country and came down wanting to see if she could kick on in the provincials,” Hodge said.
At the other end of the field in the first race at Tamworth – more than 20 lengths from the winner – was Schmizo.
The gelding had come into the race on the back of a pair of thirds and the recent form had filled trainer Sally Torrens with confidence.
The run puzzled both Torrens and jockey Greg Ryan before they realised Schmizo had lost a shoe after about 200 metres of the race which hindered the horse.
“The horse is going well but you can’t help bad luck,” Torrens said.