Petali Beach claims Liza Storm

Sassafrass trainer Shelley Barnes was back in the winner’s circle when three-year-old filly Petali Beach led all the way to score in the Liza Storm (2180m) in Burnie on Friday night.

The three-year-old daughter of Sunshine Beach was having her fourth career start and was dropping back from the Group 3 Bandbox into Maiden company.

From barrier two, driver Jordan Chibnall got the filly away quickly to lead and dictate affairs.

The $15 chance proved too good late for Kingoftheklondike ($3.70) by 1.6m with Our Sweet Trixie ($1.55 fav) a further 5.2m away third in a mile rate of 2:02.8s.

“We are very excited. I haven’t had too many to the races over recent years,” said Barnes after the race, with the win being her first since Yatsenyuk Leis won in Launceston back in April of 2020.

“She is the first horse that her owner, Peter Tuson, has bred himself, and he has his stablehand license with me and does a lot of the work with her himself and deserves a lot of the credit. To win with one you have bred yourself it’s a big thing and he is very happy.

“She ran well in the heat and final of Bandbox, and the owner and myself were confident tonight if we could lead. However we didn’t think she would cross the pole horse, but once she lead, we were confident as on her track work she is a nice horse in front, so especially around Burnie it helps a lot.

Petali Beach has been lightly raced in her career while the stable has worked on ironing out some issues.

“We had her in work earlier in the year, but we had a lot of trouble getting her going, and she did get very fat on us, and we did have some issues with her tying up, but we have sorted all that out now.

“She is still learning what it is all about. I don’t know if she will be any champion, but I think there are a few races in her,” said the trainer.

Barnes has two horses in work and also works for thoroughbred trainer Adam Trinder.

The win was the first leg of a driving double for Chibnall, who drove Onehandonebounce ($2.05 fav) to victory in the second heat of the North West Plate. The other heat was won by Done Well ($8)

The final of the North West Plate will be held at the next meeting in Burnie on 27 December.