A bargain yearling purchase could deliver Tina Ridis her first Group 1 victory on Saturday night.
Ridis has 140 driving wins and 80 training triumphs to her name, but is yet to claim an elite-level victory in either role.
The Havelock horsewoman will train and drive Hallebesofine in the APG Vicbred Super Series Final for three-year-old trotting fillies at Melton, having purchased the daughter of Pastor Stephen for just $12,000 at the 2024 Nutrien Equine Yearling Sale in Melbourne.
The filly has already banked $65,087 from 18 starts, with four wins, seven seconds and three thirds.
She booked her place in Saturday night’s final with an emphatic 13.6m victory in her heat on September 4, defeating Adelaide Red and Mevia.
“She’s going super,” Ridis said. “She is tough, she’s learning every day.”
Hallebesofine has already competed at the highest level, finishing eighth in the Group 1 NSW Oaks, beaten just 7.9m, and in the same position in the Group 1 Redwood Classic as a two-year-old.
She recently finished second in the listed Nutrien Classic 3YO Trotting Fillies Final when beaten by Aldebaran Ada, who has also qualified for Saturday night’s final.
The talented trotter also has the pedigree to match, with Hallebesofine a half-sister to Claudys Princess, who won Vicbred Super Series finals at two, three and four years of age.
Ridis said Hallebesofine’s ability to settle and sprint had been a major improvement.
“She got a nice sit in her heat. In the past you couldn’t drive her like that, she would just charge and just race hard in the death, but she’s learning to race better every day,” she said.
“Her strength is her biggest asset going into the final.
“She is learning how to sit and sprint now. Before it was just go, go, go and she was just strong.”
Ridis has tasted feature-race success as a driver, winning the $125,000 listed Nutrien Equine Classic with Prince Of Rock, who was trained by her partner Daryl Crone.
Hallebesofine will face a quality line-up on Saturday night, with fellow heat winners Queen Of Sees and Jilliby Aura among the main dangers along with Aldebaran Ada, who will also command respect after her Nutrien Classic victory.
For Ridis, it is a chance to turn a $12,000 investment into her biggest victory.
