TOP provincial jockey Mitchell Bell heaped praise on pocket-sized filly Never Talk after her sensational last-to-first win at Newcastle on Saturday.
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The $1.95 favourite rounded off a treble for premier Newcastle trainer Kris Lees when she won the 900-metre benchmark 64 handicap by a length.
The three-year-old was resuming after two wins to start her career in the winter and she had two recent barrier trials in open company.
Bell was aboard Never Talk for the first time on Saturday.
"I knew there was a rap on the filly and I was told she was ready to win first-up," Bell said.
"She kicked out when in the barrier and when the gates opened, she had no interest and tailed off a length behind the field.
"Never Talk started to push up on the turn and I knew that she could finish over them when I could get her into clear running. The filly sprouted wings late and it was a remarkable win.
"Unbeaten in three starts and more to come. A talented filly with a bright future."
Never Talk is raced by Lees and two Newcastle Jockey Club syndicates.
The trainer's other winners were colt Triple Ace and filly Perfect Radiance, which were both favourites resuming from a spell.
Triple Ace ($1.85 favourite) was first-up in the 900m maiden plate. The colt hit the ground running and was never in danger, winning by more than a length.
The three-year-old, raced by Lees' wife, Kristy, and the owners of Le Romain, impressed jockey Jeff Penza.
"He is pretty smart that colt. His last 600 was quick," Penza said.
Christian Reith was aboard Gooree Stud filly Perfect Radiance in an ultra-impressive win in the 1250m class 1 handicap.
The three-year-old was an easy winner on debut at Newcastle in May before finishing fourth to Peltzer at Randwick.
A daughter of Snitzel, Perfect Radiance resumed on Saturday and Reith put her in the box seat from the outset.
He eased her around the leaders at the top of the straight and gathered them in to win convincingly.
"She always travelled like a winner and there is so much improvement in her," Reith said.
"She is a beautiful, strongly-built filly with a good pedigree. An armchair ride and very impressive."
Aaron Bullock's great start to the season continued when he landed a double.
He brought the Richard Litt-trained Shaddy from well back to win the opening event, the 1200m maiden handicap.
He then produced a smart tactical ride to claim the 2350m class 1 and maiden plate on the Kylie Gavenlock-trained Dundee.
Bullock has ridden 21 winners already this season.