The battle between Bianconi (Swettenham Stud) and Bel Esprit (Eliza Park) for the Victorian winners’ premiership in 2010-11 will be a cliff-hanger.  They have been going head-to-head since the start of the season.

Bianconi (108 winners) will go into this weekend’s racing one ahead Bel Esprit (107) after Morphettville winner Contani gave him an edge on Wednesday.

The Swettenham stallion has won the last two Victorian winners’ titles and has already broken his own state record of 105 individual winners set last season.

Contani (3f Bianconi – Lady Isis by Snippets) sat on the speed and gave her rivals the slip in the straight at Morphettville.  She refused to surrender when tackled by Twilight Reef and they spaced the rest of the field in the Cam Management Maiden Plate (1000m).

Trainer Clayton Bromley believes Contani will win better races with experience.  “The penny still hasn’t dropped,” Bromley explained.  “I added blinkers on Wednesday and that helped her concentrate.”

Contani was purchased by Harvey Supple for $15,000 out of the Riverside Stud draft at the 2009 Adelaide Magic Millions.  Supple races her with a syndicate that includes Bromley’s son Ben along with Peter Brock, Jeff Hentschke, Jim Shoumack and Stuart Coulter.

“She didn’t start racing until May and, in hindsight, I probably pushed her too hard with three runs in three weeks,” Bromley said.  “I fell into the trap because she’s such a good doer.”

He gave Contani a refresher and she clicked straight into gear at Morphettville.  “Matt (Neilson) jumped off and said she is improving with every run,” Bromley added.  “But we will go step-by-step because it’s still only her first preparation.”

Bianconi got Contani from the unraced Snippets mare Lady Isis.  She is a half-sister to G2 Hong Kong International Bowl winner Monopolize (Rubiton) and the dam of Flemington G3 winner Rock You (Oregon).

Bianconi (Danzig) is one of Australia’s best value stallions at a $10,000 (inc gst) service fee.  Swettenham has also increased the number of mares eligible for an early bird fee of $8,500 (inc gst).