Four-year-old mare Adorabeel showed fighting qualities to notch career win number three in the 1600 metre class handicap at Hawkesbury on Thursday.

Ridden by Jeff Penza,  Adorabeel hugged the rail three pairs back until the home turn where the field began to fan wide.

Despite the pattern of the day revealing that the best going was out wide, Penza elected to save ground along the inside, hitting the front halfway down the straight.

As the outside challenges came, Penza gradually eased Adorabeel towards the middle of the track in search for better ground.

Inside the final furlong, Adorabeel had been headed by the eventual runner-up Accomp’ny Me but a tenacious effort by the daughter of Savabeel saw her kick back and win the race with authority.

In what was a moderately run affair, Adorabeel conceded the leaders a substantial start but was still able to bridge the gap which bodes well for future races over longer journeys.

Trainer Guy Walter will most likely look to step the mare up in distance now as she approaches peak fitness.

Thursday’s win was her third run back this preparation after two solid seconds over 1200 metres at Canberra and then 1400 metres at Hawkesbury.

Though she remains a mare with some temperamental issues, there is no doubting that she has ability proven by her consistent record of three wins and five minor placings from 14 starts.

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