Ballarina’s time has finally come

Ballarina might surprise a few in the Avon Gorge Handicap at Hamilton today.

The Eric Alston-trained eight-year-old has not won since November 2012, but she served notice her time might be near again at Redcar in April.

Despite having been off the track since last August, Ballarina showed plenty of early pace in a five-furlong handicap before understandably emptying out towards the line.