O'Halloran kept the "faith"

LIGHTLY-RACED filly Rule Of Faith’s breakthrough victory at Orange today had a real local flavour about it.

Hawkesbury trainer Steve O’Halloran was understandably pleased to score with the Hellbent three-year-old at $19, even if the result wasn’t so popular with punters.

Image Courtesy of Laura Lebedeff

Having only her fourth start and ridden by Mitchell Bell, Rule Of Faith upset fancied pair Sharbino ($3.30 favorite) and Sinister ($3.90) in the Maiden Plate (1400m).

Rule Of Faith is raced by the Stevenson Family; with local breeders Gary and Kay great supporters of O’Halloran’s stable.

“This filly was actually bred by Gary’s brother Kevin, who has a property at Richmond, and they were all at the track to cheer her on,” O’Halloran said before leaving on the trip home.

“Rule Of Faith has had to be managed carefully.

“She had little strength as a two-year-old, and had only two starts at the end of last season.

“I kicked off another campaign with her on the Beaumont track last month, and knew the 1150m was going to be short of her best.

“It was a good starting point to blow out the cobwebs, and getting to a more suitable distance today suited.

“I expected her to run better, but wasn’t confident she could win.

“Mitchell (Bell) gave her a 10 out of 10 ride, and she finished the race off well.

“Obviously it was great to see her win her first race, but I will have to see how she pulls up and monitor her progress.

“She is a little bit stronger, but I might have to give her a little break.”

Whilst it was good news with Rule Of Faith, O’Halloran was disappointed that stable star Mal Coupe (who also races in the Stevenson colours) missed out on trialling at Warwick Farm on Friday.

“Unfortunately he was balloted out of a trial, and that’s particularly disappointing given he won three in a row last campaign, including the last two in town,” he said.

“I had planned to trial him on Friday and then in another fortnight before taking him back to the races.

“Now I’m hoping he will be able to trial at Rosehill Gardens next Tuesday.”

*Words by John Curtis for hawkesburyraceclub.com.au