Pasquali edges out O'Dwyer to win women's Stawell Gift

Among Bella Pasquali's first memories of the women's Stawell Gift is watching entranced from the sidelines as an eight-year-old in 2015 as her mum Anna finished second to Grace O'Dwyer.

On Monday at Central Park she exacted family revenge of sorts, flashing home to edge out O'Dwyer to win the 2023 edition of the 120m handicap race.

O'Dwyer, now aged 23, was among the first to give Pasquali a celebratory embrace.

"We love Gracie and the O'Dwyer family but it's good to get a win that mum couldn't," said the 16-year-old Pasquali, who clocked a winning time of 13.55 seconds off a 7.25m mark.

"I remember a lot of my mum's races.

"She has come second a few times.

"I do remember that one (in 2015) and I used to say to her ' at least you didn't come last'.

"Back then I was eight so that's quite a long time ago."

Anna Pasquali, who was aged 37 at the time, remembers it like it was yesterday.

"It was raining, it was cold, I had three little kids who were having to be parented so it was hard work," she told reporters.

"At that time my kids were six, seven and eight, Bella was eight.

"I was off 14 (metres) and Grace was off 10.25, she was in the blue.

"I was grateful she wasn't in the blue today because I thought that was going to jinx us again.

"It worked out perfectly for Bella. It was just an amazing day for her.

"She will never forget it. Ever."

O'Dwyer was second in 13.57 and Nicole Berridge was third in 13.63, both off 7m handicaps.

Bella Pasquali's father Wally also had an accomplished pro running career and was fifth in the 1990 Stawell Gift final won by Dean Capobianco.

Her next target is booking a spot on the Australian team in the 400m for the  Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August.

"That would be so amazing if I could do that as well this year," said Pasquali, who is in Year 11 at Galen Catholic College in Wangaratta.

"It would be an incredible season."