Timely win for aptly-named pacer

APTLY-NAMED pacer Bellezza Nera registered a timely victory at Globe Derby last night.

Italian for ‘Black Beauty”, Bellezza Nera captured the Italian Cup for trainer David Harding.

Having his fourth run from a well-earned spell, Bellezza Nera completed consecutive wins following on from the previous week’s triumph.

Pleased to have the gelding back to his best, Harding has set his sights on the upcoming country cups circuit.

Bellezza Nera played a decent role during last season’s provincial features, winning the Kadina and Adelaide Pacing Cups, while finishing second in Victor Harbor and Gawler’s flagship events.

“It’s good to have him back winning,” Harding said. “The break served him well and he has come back in terrific condition.

“I’ve been happy with each of his runs this time in and he’s right on peak fitness.

“I’ll be looking at the country cups with him again over the next couple of months.”

With Dani Hill in the cart, Bellezza Nera led throughout from the pole to score by a metre-and-a-half from Dhaulagiri.

Artillery was eight-and-a-half metres away third as the winner rated 1:57.1 over 2240 metres.

“He had his first start here last February and has had about 30 stars in between and this is the first time he’s drawn the pole,” Harding said. “He won last week from the second row and after racing in the breeze, so it’s nice not to have to work as hard all the time.”