7 WINS - 48 HOURS: Bellish Boy Bombs Them

Continuing a great stretch for trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Bellish Boy (4 g Embellish – Stylish Achiever, by Fastnet Rock) easily won the $25,000 Agraforum Comcat Maiden 1400 metres on Saturday at Ashburton.

After racing competitively during the first campaign, Bellish Boy looked good finishing first and third in two trials prior to resuming, and although his first two starts never quite went to plan, the addition of blinkers and barrier one appeared likely to work the oracle.

Ridden by Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman, who rode two of three winners for the stable a day beforehand at Taupo, Bellish Boy received a box seat run in the trail and had no trouble disposing of the opposition by four and a half lengths.

It was a fitting win by the horse and a performance that drew a beaming smile from Hassman as she crossed the line. 

On Soft5 footing, Bellish Boy ran 1400 metres in 1:23.9, last 600m in 35.8 (approx.), and paid $2.80 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was really good to get a win for Matt Corban and Inspire Racing, today,” Walker said. 

“He’s been very patient with him, had a couple of glitches with unlucky rides from wide draws, but it was great to see him perform true to form and show the potential.

“I think the blinkers certainly aided him and he was able to win very easily. It was the type of win that should give him plenty of confidence and he’ll be immediately competitive up in grade.”

On course, Te Akau assistant trainer Hunter Durrant said: “We were pleased with him coming into it. The draw (1) was a positive and a beautiful ride by Hayley to get him tucked in behind the speed.

“He looked a little bit keen early, but switched off and did it quite easily in the end.

“I think he’s the type of horse to go on with it, over ground too.”

Owned by Inspire Racing Bellish Boy Syndicate (Mgr: Matthew Corban), he was originally offered and sold by Cambridge Stud at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale, before being bought by Corban for $30,000 at the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge.

Bellish Boy is by Cambridge Stud sire Embellish (Savabeel), whom Sir David Ellis purchased as a yearling at Karaka, and Te Akau trained to win the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m).

In return, Ellis has been a strong supporter of the stallion – both breeding and buying – while Bellish Boy became the 12th individual winner by Embellish trained by Te Akau, including South Island Champion Three-Year-Old Talisker and stakes' winner What You Wish For. 

“I was really pleased to see him win like that and he should be able to go on with it,” Sir David said.

“The stables are going really well, in the North and South Islands and Melbourne, and Hunter (Durrant) and his team are doing a great job from our training base at Riccarton, as we lead in to Cup Week in November.

“It’s a special thrill for Matt Corban. His father, Marcus Corban, worked closely with Sir Patrick Hogan for 40 years at Cambridge Stud, has built up a wealth of knowledge, and we’ve been privileged at Te Akau to have him in our inspection and buying team since 2022. 

“It was another good winner for Embellish. He continues to be underrated, but he leaves really good quality horses that continue to get better with time and we’ve had a lot of success with breeding and buying them.”

Bellish Boy was strapped by Pieter Van Rooyen.

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