Bella ready to make her mark at Doomben

Promising filly Italia Bella can step into the shoes of a former top mare as the stable star for trainer Stuart Kendrick.

Caloundra-based Kendrick recently retired black-type winning mare Divine Centuri who fetched $360,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on Tuesday.

Kendrick has a big opinion of Italia Bella who has had only two starts for a fifth in the Listed Dalrello Stakes and a third in the Group Two Champagne Classic.

The filly is raced by some of Kendrick’s and Queensland’s best known owners including Neil Douglas, Ross Cutts and Bill Andrews.

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Italia Bella will run in the Listed Phoenix (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.

“She has obviously shown us a bit and we have started her in good races to date. Both her runs have been good and we are confident she is up to stakes company,” Kendrick said.

“Italia Bella is entered for next week’s Group One J J Atkins Stakes but we will get over Saturday before worrying about that.”

The Kendrick-trained Charnley River ran second for Cutts in last year’s J J Atkins won by Sacred Elixir.