Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Serpentine horseman Dylan Egerton-Green is enjoying his best season as a trainer, and he celebrated a quinella result in the 2130m Barbagallo Maserati Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Bellezza Nera finished strongly to beat Otis.
Otis was the $3.80 third favourite, who was driven by Egerton-Green from barrier five in the $19,000 event, with Aiden De Campo driving Bellezza Nera from out wide at barrier seven.
Despite a smart win over 1730m at Gloucester Park three starts earlier, Bellezza Nera was overlooked by punters and was a $71 outsider on the fixed market who was a $54 chance on the tote.
Thomson Bay ($3.20) set the pace, with Otis in the breeze and Brickies Dream ($3.30) enjoying a perfect trip in the one-out, one-back position.
Bellezza Nera raced four back on the pegs in seventh place, with De Campo saying it was a good spot. “They went really hard down the back (with a third quarter of 27.8sec.) which saw the field open up and we were able to get a run through the middle,” he said.
“Then we got into a bumping duel around the (home) corner, but we were able to get out and win. He’s a small horse and a really neat pacer.”
The WA-bred Bellezza Nera has been a handy performer for Oz-West Pacing, earning $132,221 from 11 wins and 29 placings from 88 starts. His win on Friday night gave Egerton-Green his 54TH training success for 2024, equalling his 2023 tally.