Legendary trainer Les Bridge can make something special out of a horse and will likely tackle stakes grade with his up and coming bargain Hellbent filly Scintilla after making it three in a row on Wednesday.
Scintilla broke her maiden three starts ago, winning over 1250m at Canterbury comfortably before backing it up with another win last start over the same course and distance, but more easily.
Sticking to the same class for this race but up to 1400m, Braith Nock found the lead comfortably and she was never in danger defeating Flying Thinker (So You Think) by 1.9 lengths with Good Sort (Tassort) third.
“She’s such a professional,” said Nock.
“I was going to take a sit but she was there easy enough.”
“She just had so many gears.”
The three-year-old filly has a nomination for next Saturday’s Group I Surround Stakes but stable spokesman Ash Wright reported a Melbourne trip was also under consideration.
Scintilla was a mere $15,000 buy for long time Bridge client Kim Harding from Middlebrook Valley Lodge at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale.
She is out of Lonhro mare Crystal Whip, a half-sister to Group III winner Crystal Dreamer and stakes placed Fast Talker, the dam of Group I winner Zougotcha as well as stakes winners Persuader and The Actuary.
Second dam Crystal Wit is a stakes winning half-sister to Golden Slipper Crystal Lily.
So a stakes win on the Scintilla resume is going to bring plenty to that $15,000.