Serenade Strolls In

It was a confidence building victory for the talented filly Serenade at Ballarat on Wednesday, the Gr.3 placed daughter of Star Witness dropping in grade after a good first up performance that saw her do a bit wrong.

Beaten just over three lengths that day by the flying Petits Filous, Serenade had the blinkers off but was field shy in the running, only really hitting the line over the final 100m once into the clear.

And so to Ballarat with the blinkers back on and Serenade was able to show her best, always travelling well outside the leader and getting clear over the final 100m to salute by 1 1/4 lengths.

"That is how we expected her to win," said Glen Boss who had been impressed with the way in which Serenade had been working at home..."she has been flying in her jump-outs."

"She just wasn't happy in between horses last start but she gave me a good spurt the last 100m so with the blinkers back on today I was confident."

As was Greg Hoysted, noting that "she was the best horse in the race."

"She travelled beautifully with the blinkers back on today and really hit the line well."

Michael Moroney was also pleased - "she has come to hand very well this preparation and we will look towards the Queensland carnival with her.

Hopefully she can earn some more black-type."

Raced by Ballymore Stables Australia, Eliza Park International, Sun Bloodstock and Karen Glindemann, Serenade was a bargain $26,000 purchase for Paul Moroney - already amassing over $167,000 in stakes.

Bred by Widden Stud and the Balmerino Partnership, Serenade is a half-sister to the Gr.1 galloper Stratum Star out of a sister to the NZ stakes winner Raid. Her fourth dam is one of the true greats of the Australian turf, the champion mare Emancipation.