Bello Mio Goes Back to Back

Recent course/distance winner Bello Mio (3 g Deep Field - Bella Francesca, by Master of Design) made it two in a row when taking out the $14,000 Brokerweb Risk Services Rating 65 1050 metres on 11 January at Matamata.

Having streaked clear to win the Maiden 1050 metres on 23 December at Matamata, with Te Akau reigning Champion Apprentice Joe Kamaruddin aboard, the same combination obliged again up in grade.

Last at the 600m, Bello Mio tracked stable-mate Grace ‘N' Grey (Spirit of Boom) into the straight and gained measure of the grey filly late in the piece with a strong and sustained gallop.

Offering $3.60 fixed earlier in the day, Bello Mio ended up sharing favouritism with Grace ‘N' Grace -justified by a short head margin between them at the line - and finished up paying $2.90 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

While winning last time on footing that upgraded to Slow7, Bello Mio coped admirably with contrasting conditions on going downgraded by rain on the day to Heavy10.

Now the winner of two from three, Bello Mio drew praise from trainer Mark Walker.

“He's a nice progressive horse that has cottoned on to racing and he managed to get through the (heavy) ground okay,” he said.

“He's getting a bit stronger with each race, mentally, and he possesses a good turn of foot.”

Owned by the Te Akau Deep Thinkers Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Bello Mio was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $140,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Kiltannon Stables.

By current top-10 Australian stallion Deep Field (Northern Meteor), Bello Mio is from Bella Francesa, out of Palatine Hill (Palace Music), and therefore a half-sister to dual Group One winner Palentino (Teofilo).

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “He's a nice athletic colt by a sire that's doing a good job at stud, out of a young mare that is a sister to a dual Group One winner.

“We expect he will come into his own as a three-year-old. He walks well, good attitude, and we were happy with the way he breezed up. Not rushed early, but once up and running he looked really good in his action and attacked the line.”

Ellis is currently in attendance at the Gold Coast Yearling Sales where he has, thus far, bought seven of the offerings, which feature on the Te Akau Racing website, listed on the Yearlings & Shares page.

Bello Mio was strapped by Rasheed Alam.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz