La Bella Nera headlined an outstanding start to the two-day Cromwell meeting for trainers John and Karen Parsons, who collected four wins on Friday’s eight-race card.

Illness forced Karen Parsons to watch on television at home as On File, Ultimo, La Bella Nera and Funfetti all saluted the judge in the stable’s familiar red, white and blue colours.

“I’m sick in bed at home, but today’s results have helped a bit,” Parsons said. “The horses have done well today and it’s been good to watch.”

The day’s biggest win came from La Bella Nera in the Catalyst Performance Clare Memorial Cup (1220m). The Sweynesse mare moved up in grade on Friday, taking on Rating 84 opposition after finishing fourth in a Rating 75 during the New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch earlier in the month. But she rose to the occasion and produced a bold front-running performance.

La Bella Nera was driven straight to the front by apprentice jockey Yogesh Atchamah and dictated terms from there. The two favourites Amberecho and Inflamed were breathing down her neck coming up to the home turn, but La Bella Nera summoned another effort in the straight and held them out strongly by three-quarters of a length. The win brought up a milestone 50^th career winner for Atchamah.

Bred, owned and trained by Parsons, La Bella Nera has had 21 starts for six wins, five placings and $126,820 in stakes. She is a daughter of the Falkirk mare Arietta, who herself won eight races in the Parsons colours including the Listed Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

“La Bella Nera deserved that win today and she did a good job to lead all the way like she did,” Parsons said. “I’m not sure where we’ll go with her next, but she’s racing well. She’s putting together a good record.”

On File and Ultimo cleared maiden ranks in promising style earlier on Friday’s card, and Funfetti put the cherry on the top of a big day with her tough performance in the Greg Jopson Property Brokers & Chatto Creek Tavern (1400m). The four-year-old Embellish mare was a last-start winner in Rating 65 company during the New Zealand Cup Carnival, and she stayed in the same grade on Friday with a 1.5kg increase in weight. Despite a tough wide run, she surged to the front in the straight and scored a convincing win in the hands of jockey Tina Comignaghi.

The Parsons team will attempt to continue their hot run on Sunday’s second day of the popular meeting, where they have eight horses entered.

El Ultimo, On File and Funfetti could back up from Friday’s heroics, while Tumuch brings a strong run of form into the KB Contractors Open (1400m). The Satono Aladdin gelding was a first-up winner at Riccarton on September 28, then ran top races to finish second and fourth on the two Saturdays of the New Zealand Cup Carnival.

“I don’t know yet whether any of today’s runners will back up, but hopefully we’ll have some nice chances again on Sunday either way,” Parsons said.