5 Win Tuesday - Belle of the Ball Bombs Them

Providing a fifth winner on the card for nine-time Champion Trainer Mark Walker, Belle Of The Ball (4 m Savabeel - Lady Tatia, by Duke of Marmalade) scorched home for victory in the $20,000 Coastwood Homes Lockwood Thames Cup (Rating 75 1600 metres) on 3 January at Matamata.

In addition to the five winners, the Te Akau stable also recorded six seconds and six thirds.

Winning three in a row to 1600 metres before a top fourth in the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m), Belle Of The Ball ended her southern campaign finishing seventh in the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2500m) to stable-mate Campionessa (Contributer), who subsequently won the Rich Hill Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m) on 1 January at Te Rapa.

She made good inroads for fifth when trialling on 23 December at Matamata, and rated a top three chance on the day.

Following an economical passage near the rail, Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson extricated the mare from ninth inside the 600m, was widest turning in, and she sprinted past to win impressively.

“It was a good win, probably against the pattern of racing a little bit as well, to come from off the speed,” Walker said.

“She's another really good Savabeel mare that Dave (Ellis) bought at Karaka, and has a good future. She's a mare that is really going places and probably now prepare for the Anniversary Handicap.”

The $100,000 Anniversary Handicap (Gr. 3, 1600m) is scheduled to Saturday 14 January at Trentham.

Owned by Te Akau Belle of the Ball Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $300,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Waikato Stud.

By eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), dam Lady Tatia (Duke of Marmalade) won twice to 1850 metres and finished third in the Moonee Valley Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m).

Her dam sire, Duke of Marmalade (Danehill), was a Group One winner to 2400 metres, from an excellent family, and amongst his progeny was ultra-consistent seven-time winner Marmelo who finished runner-up in the Melbourne Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) while also winning three 3000 metres races at Group Two and Group Three levels.

“It looked like we'd have a good day on paper, but you've still got to do it and a lot of them had to overcome wide draws,” said Ellis, in summary of the day.

“It was really good to see horses that we've been buying go out there and win races for the owners. That's what is so rewarding for Karyn and me to see, and also nice to have a homebred winner too: Off To The Nunnery.

“The owners are getting a lot of fun out of it and especially at this time of year if they're able to get along and enjoy being live on course.”

Te Akau established the fastest training century in a season when Jamie Richards reached the milestone on 28 January 2021, ahead of a record-breaking 160 domestic wins, and Walker is on target to eclipse both marks.

“We got our 95^thwin for the season today and I'm incredibly proud of the job that Mark and all the staff are doing,” Ellis said.

“They're all working so hard, which all people in racing are doing at this time of year, and it's great to see their efforts being rewarded.

“One of things that pleased me most during the day, was in the Fairview Motors race, sponsored by the Dyke family, we trifected the race with three progeny of Burgundy.

“He was a beautiful horse, Burgundy, and a special colt to have in the stable. He was a hell of a loss to the breeding industry after only leaving four crops.

“This mare, Belle Of The Ball, was a stakes' placed Maiden at the end of her three-year-old year, before winning four times this season and she's really starting to hit her straps.”

Belle Of The Ball was strapped by Kendyll Lee.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz