Two decade dream within reach

RENOWN breeder Bruce Edward hopes a dream two decades in the making will come to fruition this weekend.

Since establishing his nursery Durham Park in 2006, Edward’s has aimed to breed a Victoria Pacing Oaks winner.

Thanks to rising star filly Bettor Beach, Edward is odds-on to be holding the Blue Riband trophy aloft in Melton tomorrow night.

Already a Group One winner having captured last month’s Vicbred Super Series success, Bettor Beach is a $1.33 TAB Fixed Odds favourite ahead of the classic.

“I’ve been waiting 20 years to breed my own Oaks winner,” Edward declared. “As a breeder, winning an Oaks is very important, exciting and has always been my target.

“Funnily enough, I won the Oaks as an owner with Sweet Bella in 2023, which is from my bloodline, but I didn’t breed her.

“I bred her dam Illawong Bella and later sold her to Martin Hartnett, who bred Sweet Bella from her, which I bought back as I was in need of a filly.

“Every foal I breed goes to sale and I only race those which were passed in, which includes Bettor Beach.”

Prepared by Victoria’s premier trainer Emma Stewart, Bettor Beach boasts six wins from nine starts, with her victories including last week’s Oaks heat.

After working to the lead from barrier two, Bettor Beach was never seriously challenged as she rated 1:58.5 over 2760 metres.

The three-year-old’s stablemate, Willows Girl, won the other heat in 1:56.3.

To be driven by Mark Pitt, Bettor Beach has drawn barrier four, with Willows Girl to begin from gate two with visiting New South Wales reinsman Cameron Hart in the cart.

Willows Girl is considered the main threat at $4.60, with The Queens Gambit the only other runner under double figures at $9 from barrier seven.

Stewart will also be represented by My Bettor Half and Pre Eminant, which are among the outsiders after drawing the middle of the second row.

“She is not renowned for burning out of the gate, but over the distance, I don’t think the draw matters much,” Edward said. “It does give us options such as whether to go forward or pull back.

“That’s not my domain though, so I’ll leave that to the experts like Pitty to work it out.

“Willows Girl is a nice filly, in fact they are all nice fillies in the field, but I wouldn’t be swapping mine.

“She’s already done a great job, but has the potential to be a very nice filly… I know Emma has a very high opinion of her.”