Rivergirl Bella all the way at Cambridge in timely boost for hospitalised owner

Rivergirl Bella might not be the gun perfomer owner Phil Cook was hoping to breed but she provided a timely pick-up for him with her second win at Cambridge on Thursday night.

Cook, 80, was unaware of the win this morning, being laid up in Middlemore Hospital, but his wife Delia planned to show him a replay of the race when visiting later today.

And when he hears co-trainer Ray Green talk about Rivergirl Bella’s future, he is sure to gain more reassurance about his decision to keep breeding.

“I will take my laptop up when I visit him and show him the race and that will give him a boost,” Cook’s wife Delia said.

“He’s had a few health challenges recently but should be home soon.”

Phil and Delia Cook, who operate as Philadelphia Racing Ltd, have had to wait 27 starts to see Rivergirl Bella win two races.

Phil Cook with his now retired seven-race winner Riverman Sam. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.“Ray’s always said she’s a persistent little thing but she was just too weak,” Delia Cook said. “But hopefully she can win a few more races now.”

Green reiterated today that the filly was getting stronger all the time, suspecting her improvement mirrored the stock of her sire Lazarus.

“She’s got a lot of speed. Early on she just wasn’t strong enough to carry it very far. But she’s in the zone at the moment and is a real trier.

“She’s a rating 40 now but in the right fields, with a draw, she’ll be competitive. I actually thought she raced quite well against the better fillies at Auckland and she won easily on Thursday night.”

Gifted an easy lead from her inside gate, Rivergirl Bella was challenged inside and out in the run home but held well for driver Tony Cameron to beat Reet Petite by half a length in 2:45.26 for the 2200 metres, with a sedate mile rate of 2:00.8 and pedestrian closing sectionals of 59.2 and 28.7.

Co-trainer Ray Green’s prediction.But, climaxing four recent placings, which saw her sent out a $2 favourite, the effort strengthened the Cooks’ decision to persevere with their broodmare Ideal Alice.

The 15-year-old, who won 20 races and $434,804 for the couple, 17 in Western Australia including a Group I, has proved a disappointment at stud, with her first foal unable to win in 18 starts and her next two not making it to the races.

They have a Vincent yearling named Riverman Richard but did toy with the idea of not breeding Ideal Alice again until Alabar Stud boss Graeme Henley talked them into trying new Downbytheseaside stallion Pebble Beach.

“We’d like to get a good foal from her. She’s due next month and hopefully we might get something a bit better.”