Bellevue Hill heads to G1
In the first of a stakes double for Pierro, 2-year-old colt Bellevue Hill dominated the G3 The Schweppervescence at Rosehill with a strong all the way win to mark himself one of the best 2YO colts in Australia.
An emergency for the Slipper, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott had strong form, coming off a close second to Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) in the G2 ATC Todman S. He handled the track and distance to lead all the way, winning impressively by two lengths.
He is among the leading chances for the G1 Inglis Sires at Randwick next Saturday.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott was optimistic of the horses chances in the race and believes he has a very nice colt going forward.
“We were really confident with the horse,” Bott said. "The conditions were the concern today but he seemed to relish them once he begun well and he looked to travel well throughout.
“We wanted to see a strong performance like that to top him off for the Sires. I would be very confident with him going forward.”
Sold at the 2018 Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Aquis Farm for $400,000, they remain in the purchase syndicate which included Gai Waterhouse, BlueSky Bloodstock, RIFA Mustang and Raffles Racing.
Bob and Sandra Peters' Regal Power followed up with another stakes win for the sire, when winning the Listed Melvista Stakes at Ascot.
There are six colts and eight fillies by Pierro in the 2019 Australian Easter Yearling Sale catalogue.
Gem of a ride on mare
Corey Brown’s experience was the key to Invincible Gem (I Am Invincible) returning to winning form at Rosehill.
Having quickly summed up how the heavy track was playing in the opening races, all won by leaders, Brown made sure he was positive out of the gates on the mare, paving the way for her to win the G2 Jim Beam Emancipation S.
“I rode the track more than the horse," Brown said. "It's the way the track has to be ridden."
With trainer Kris Lees in Dubai to oversee Brave Smash's (Jpn) (Tosen Phantom {Jpn}) bid in theG1 Al Quoz Sprint, stable representative Lucas Miller said it was great to see Invincible Gem back to her best
“She's always drawn a bad gate and had some bad luck but always run well," Miller said.
"The riders have always suggested she's going well within herself, it's just the results on the board haven't been there to prove it. She's a tough mare and deserved that.”
Deserved spell for undefeated filly
Trainer Mick Price is looking ahead to the future with Mystery Love (Eurozone) after she retained her unbeaten record with success in the Listed Jayco Bendigo Guineas.
Price said the filly had a delayed start to her racing career due to a near front fetlock issue that took time to overcome. He praised the ownership group for their patience in giving the filly the necessary time.
"I was walking on eggshells with her over the last week, just with has she had or has she not had enough," Price said.
"I thought if we drew off the track we wouldn't run her, but she drew barrier one so I thought we would. It was a great ride and she can go out now.
"She'll be a nice mare, she was always going to be a nice mare, so to win a black- type race now, it's fantastic."
Group 1 tilt on cards
Trainer Grahame Begg is pondering a Group 1 opportunity for stable newcomer Miss Siska (So You Think {NZ}) after a first-up win at Bendigo.
Previously with Tony McEvoy, she joined Begg for her current campaign which opened with a stylish win in the Bendigo Gold Bracelet.
"It's great for her to come here because it looked a light race with the set-weights and penalties," Begg said.
"Obviously she's come off running in a 2000-metre race at the end of the spring carnival, but she's a lovely sound mare and fool proof in as far as training her goes.
"She came to us and was ready to go but had missed a lot of the autumn which might be a bit of a blessing in disguise.”
The Group 1 Coolmore Legacy at Randwick on April 13 is a race Begg is considering for the mare's next outing.
Stayer completes comeback
Jacksstar (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) made an emotional return to the winner’s enclosure when he out-stayed his rivals to capture the G2 City Of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup on his home turf.
The Awapuni-trained galloper has had nothing but bad luck since finishing a gallant third in the 2018 G1 Auckland Cup, in the process sustaining a serious tendon injury.
“To get this horse back after where he was two years ago is unbelievable,” trainer Gary Vile said.
Vile candidly admits there is no love lost with Jacksstar, who can prove a handful around the stable.
“He’s not really a stable favourite, he’s a horrible horse,” he said. “He’s a really hard horse to train, but he’s one of the better ones.
“His work had been great and he’s a true-blue stayer who likes a good track. He will go to the Hawke’s Bay Cup now and that will be his lot.”
Carnival hopes for Le Juge
The genuine Le Juge (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) will be set for the Queensland winter carnival races with his win at Doomben.
Champion trainer Chris Waller may have a lot more talent in his stables, but few can match the 6-year-old’s consistency.
Despite hanging in the straight, Le Juge ($5.50) made it four wins in his past six starts when he was too strong at the finish in the Castle International Trading Plate (1600m).
Waller's Queensland stable manager Paul Shailer said Le Juge had been consistent since coming north from Sydney in November.
"He hadn't raced for five weeks, but we kept him in the stable and he just pottered about," Shailer said. “He comes to hand quickly and he will obviously be even more improved.
"There aren't many more consistent horses than him so he might as well hang about for the winter."
Classic bid on radar
The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) put his hand up for a possible tilt at the G1 Australian Derby with a strong age group win at Awapuni.
“We’d have to have a think about that,” said co-trainer Murray Baker. “To go to Randwick he’d have to fly over on Tuesday.”
The colt, who was unplaced when he suffered an interrupted run in the G1 New Zealand Derby, came with a well-timed finish under Troy Harris to land the G3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic.
“He had an unfortunate run in the Derby and got knocked from pillar to post,” Baker said.
The Chosen One was bred by the Dennis brothers, who remain in the ownership, and is from their prolific family that includes the dual Group 1 winner The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Precocious filly wins again
Rainbow Dash (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) added to a lucrative 2-year-old campaign at Ellerslie where she made all in front to win for the second time in her career.
The G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. runner-up travelled easily in front and wasn’t tested to triumph in the 100% Appliances Juvenile.
“She’s always showed her best on good tracks and she’s not just a frontrunner,” trainer Jenna Mahoney said. “It’s working for now, but she doesn’t have to lead.”
Rainbow Dash is from the family of the two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de Lago).
