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Flemington Race 1 results: Bella Rosa wins Bumble Stakes

5th November, 2018
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5th November, 2018
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Bella Rosa has won the first race on Melbourne Cup day at Flemington, taking out the 1000-metre Bumble Stakes ahead of Lankan Star and a fast-finishing favourite Champagne Boom.

The 11-horse field, cut from 12 after the late scratching of Still Single, had to deal with shocking conditions which have plagued Melbourne all morning and sent the track from a Good 4 to a Soft 6 in the space of an hour.

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In the pouring rain, it was difficult to accelerate late and those horses who hit the front at the mid-way point of the race were able to hang on and go the distance, with Bella Rosa just edging out Lankan Star by a nose for the win on the outside.

Lankan Star looked to have things under control with 200 metres to go when it was leading by almost a length, but Bella Rosa timed the run perfectly to take the first race on Cup day.

Champagne Boom, who came into the race as the favourite, just left the run a little bit late, and had there been another 50 metres, probably would have come over the top to win.

One of the other race favourites, Sisstar came through in fourth spot, unable to come over the top or build enough speed during the end of the sprint race.

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Bella Rosa, ridden by Mark Zahra and trained by Ciaron Maher, was paying around the $7.50 mark through most betting agencies to take the race.

Full Bumble Stakes results

1. Bella Rosa (6)
2. Lankan Star (9)
3. Champagne Boom (1)
4. Sisstar (11)
5. Calmyourfarm (4)
6. Magnicity (2)
7. First dawn (8)
8. Song Brocade (3)
9. Leale (10)
10. Anikery (5)
11. Dreamtime Lady (7)

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