Willows Girl upsets the favourites in Gold Bracelet

Talented filly Willows Girl (Sweet Lou) caused an upset of sorts when she finished too strongly in the $100,000 Group 2 Little Wych Gold Bracelet final for three year old harness racing fillies at Bathurst on Saturday evening.

Despite having won her Heat Willows Girl as was most of the opposition was not considered to be a serious threat to the raging favourite Sparkling Sea who had won seven of her previous eight starts and looked to be a near certainty from barrier two.

But surprisingly she showed little dash early and Devious Minds found the early. Willows Girl commenced quickly as well as did Ripples who was out three wide early. Ripples had no option but to race up outside the leader while Cameron Hart on Willows Girl eased back for the one out and one back trail.

However supporters of Sparkling Sea had no reason to be concerned as she settled one out and two back.

WILLOWS GIRL 28 MAR REPLAY

Despite the hard run Ripples forged to the lead while Sparkling Sea eased out three wide for her run. But at that point she appeared to paddle and was not making up any ground. Willows Girl who had an easy run was able to quickly join Ripples and she drew clear for a comfortable win over the latter with Eye Wish coming from back in the field for third placing. Willows Girl returned a mile rate of 1.53 with a last quarter of 28.8 seconds.

Ripples who won the two year final last season showed great courage after such a hard run and lost no admirers in finishing second. Yirradiva who was back at the rear was also doing her best work at the finish to finish a close fourth.

Willows Girl has been lightly raced in her career and her dam Soho Montelana was by Rocknroll Hanover and won two minor races from only nine starts. She has left previous winners Soho Matisse and Captain Deejay. She is trained by Emma Stewart and now emerges a serious Oaks prospect in the near future.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink