6 Win Saturday - Belle the Beautiful

Announcing herself as a filly of reckoning, Belle Cheval (3 f Savabeel – Keepa Cheval, by Keeper) blazed home for a second start victory in the $30,000 TAB Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on Saturday at Ellerslie.

Having come from beyond midfield with a strong finish for third when debuting in the Maiden 1200 metres on 10 October at Taupo, the half-sister to triple Group One winner Bostonian (Jimmy Choux) had the addition of side winkers and put herself in the frame for upcoming stakes' races for three-year-old fillies.

Drawn barrier nine in a field of 11, Belle Cheval situated three-wide with cover from the 1000 metres, as the pace slackened, and after biding her time she cruised up behind runners turning for home, reached the front a furlong out and raced clear over the concluding stages to win by two and a half lengths. 

Nicely handled by Grylls, the Champion Jockey last season, Belle Cheval produced a performance in keeping with the best of her age and sex this season in New Zealand. 

Tightening from an initial $18 fixed odds quote, she paid $7.30 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote, after running 1400 metres in 1:26.5, last 600m in 33.6 (approx.), on footing then upgraded to Good4. 

“The plan was to be positive and she was a little bit slow away again, like she was a Taupo, but fair play to Gryllsy, he got a lovely track into it, three-wide with cover, and she was pretty electric late,” said Sam Bergerson, on course, training partner with Mark Walker. 

“It was very exciting and a massive thrill to have a winner for David Archer and Diane Wright, our first horse for them. 

“She’s looks pretty top drawer, so exciting times for them, and we’re grateful for their support. 

With regards contending the 1000 Guineas, Bergerson said: “Potentially, we’ll have to sit down and have a team talk because she was so impressive.

“There’s a couple of good ones in there and she’d have to take that next step up to beat them. But we’ll sit down with David and Di, Mark (Walker) and Dave (Ellis) and have a good team talk and a think about it, because she probably deserves a shot at it now.”

The $600,000 Group 1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) is contested on Saturday 8 November at Riccarton, and is a race Te Akau has previously won seven times. 

On dismounting, Grylls said: “She looks like an exciting filly in the making. The plan was to be positive, but she didn’t step from the gates that well, so I went back and got a bit of cover. They actually went very slow, so it was a good effort, because she had to sprint around, but she did it pretty easily.

“The thing I liked about her, even when they slowed-up she didn’t pull or anything and really switched off, and in the straight she changed legs and took off. 

“I see she’s nominated for the 1000 Guineas, so hopefully she’s one they take down there. I think she’ll be ideal over a mile and a nice hope going towards that.”

Bred by Archer Investments, for owners D L Archer, S C Archer, N N Micarone & D J Wright, Belle Cheval is a daughter of race winner Keepa Cheval, who including 10-time winner Bostonian has now left eight winners of 25 races. 

“It’s always very special to win a race at Ellerslie, headquarters, as we refer to it,” Archer said.

“She’s a nice filly and to Reece (Trumper) and Sam (Bergerson), here, you’ve done a great job preparing her and we couldn’t be happier.” 

On course at Riccarton, but not missing a beat regarding the runners at Ellerslie, Mark Walker said: “It was a muddling run race and a really good effort by the filly to pick them up the way she did and go on to win like that.

“She was three-wide and had cover, but the way she sprinted off a slow speed was very impressive. 

“It’s great to have a winner in their colours for David and Di. They’ve bred and raced some Champion horses and it’s great to get their support in the stable with a promising filly.

“She’s by our (NZ) Champion Sire Savabeel and only going to continue to improve. So, we’ll see how she pulls up, but she does hold a nomination for the 1000 Guineas and we’ll have to give that serious consideration. 

“She was most impressive, has a beautiful pedigree, and great to get such a good win at Ellerslie.”

Belle Cheval was strapped by Rasheed Alam. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz