Returning Robert Sangster winning mare Bella Vella dug deep first-up to continue her lovely record at The Valley with a gutsy victory in the 2020 McEwen Stakes ahead of the Group 1 Moir Stakes back at the track on September 25.

Bella Vella (pictured at The Valley in October 2019) scored a brilliant first-up win at the same track in the 2020 McEwen Stakes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Will Clarken-trained daughter of Commands went out a three-time winner on the trot during the autumn and returned in excellent fashion to take out the Group 2 $200,000 McEwen Stakes (1000m) on Ladbrokes Feehan Stakes Day.

Ridden first-up by the in-form Jamie Kah, the six-year-old enjoyed her 10^th career win and third from four starts at Moonee Valley where she will return as a popular choice for the Group 1 $1 million A.J. Moir Stakes (1000m) under the lights at the end of the month.

Having her first start since saluting at a blowout price in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide back in early May, Bella Vella was brilliant out the gates in the McEwen and settled nicely in third as Witherspoon and Ashlor led the field around.

Bella Vella was wide around the turn but really let down beautifully late, coming at Ashlor who had got to the front to force a photo finish.

In the end Bella Vella was too speedy and too brave, returning in style to continue the fairy tale for connections who picked her up from the online sales.

After getting shut out a little on the bend, Bella Vella ($4) really dug in for the fight and got up to defeat Dan McCarthy’s eye-catching roughie Ashlor ($31) by a short half-head.

In third a further three-quarters back to round out the McEwen Stakes trifecta was the beaten equal-favourite Brooklyn Hustle ($3.80), while the returning Blue Diamond winner Hanseatic ($3.80) ran on well for fourth.

Clarken confirmed the Moir Stakes target for Bella Vella and paid tribute to fellow Group 1 sprinters from South Australia Gytrash (Gordon Richards), who won the Group 3 Concorde Stakes earlier in the day in Sydney ahead of The Everest 2020, and last weekend’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes champ Behemoth (David Jolly).

“To win a Group 1 like the Moir, she has to be versatile,” he said.

“It was brilliant to see her being able to come off them like she did today.

“She’s gone well today, but there is definitely some fitness to come.

“Isn’t it terrific? That w’eve got three genuine Group 1 sprinters heading into the spring.”

All-in 2020 Moir Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has firmed on Bella Vella from $12 into $11, while Hanseatic remains the $4.80 second elect behind The Rosebud winner Anders ($2.60).

Click here for the full futures Moir Stakes odds online.

2020 McEwen Stakes Results  

Colour	Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Penalty	Starting Price
	1	5	BELLA VELLA	Will Clarken	Jamie Kah		8	56.5kg		$4
	2	2	ASHLOR	Dan McCarthy	Daniel Stackhouse	0.1L	4	58.5kg		$31
	3	7	BROOKLYN HUSTLE	Jason Warren & Dean Krongold	Ben Melham	0.85L	2	56.5kg		$3.80EF
	4	8	HANSEATIC	Anthony & Sam Freedman	Craig Williams	1.05L	9	52kg		$3.80EF
	5	4	FINE DANE	John Moloney	Patrick Moloney	1.55L	1	58.5kg		$31
	6	9	RULERSHIP	Peter & Paul Snowden	Dean Yendall	2.05L	3	52kg		$12
	7	1	DESPATCH	Tony & Calvin McEvoy	Luke Currie	2.35L	6	58.5kg		$31
	8	3	BONS AWAY	Wendy Kelly	Craig Newitt	5.35L	7	58.5kg		$8
	9	6	WITHERSPOON	Kris Lees	Damien Oliver	6.1L	5	56.5kg		$14

Table Credit: Racing Australia.