Bolli Belle Boom on Debut

Recording a stylish debut victory, Bolli Belle (3 f Shamus Award – Fille Champagne, by Sebring) shone through in the $18,500 NZB Mega Maiden Series 1340 metres on 19 January at Wanganui. In addition to the winning stake ($10,360), the owners won an extra $20,000 and trainers receive $5,000, as part of the NZB Mega Maiden Series.

The New Zealand Bloodstock and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing initiative, supported by Entain/TAB, is available to horses purchased at Karaka, that enter for the Karaka Million Series.

The $1 million in bonuses is made up of 40 Mega Maiden Bonus races each season across New Zealand.

Well performed when trialling as a two-year-old, Bolli Belle was given time by trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson to commence racing as a three-year-old, and after running home well for fourth when trialling on 9 December at Pukekohe, they picked the right race for her to debut. 

Ridden by Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman (a3), who reduced the weight to 52kg, and continues to ride in good form, Bolli Belle went forward to sit on the hindquarters of the leader. She travelled comfortably approaching the home turn when the pressure went on, and drew out in the straight to win by easily by nearly four lengths.

It was a very good first-up performance by the filly, whose Group 1 Cox Plate winning sire Shamus Award (Snitzel) is also the sire of dual Group One winning stable-mate Quintessa. 

“It was a really good win and I thank the owners for their patience, we’ve just had so many wide draws with the filly of late, which resulted in her being scratched,” Walker said.

“It was a competitive ride by Hayley (Hassman) to put her in the race, and she’s a filly that will just keep improving. She’s got plenty of size and scope to her and just requires continuing to develop and filling out her frame.

“I was very happy with the way the race panned out and the way she was able to go on and win so well. 

“We haven’t had many of his progeny, Shamus Award, but Quintessa has been a top filly and mare, and both Cinturato and now Bolli Belle show plenty of promise.”

Following placed performances earlier on the card by stable-mates Passion ‘N’ Pride (Darci Brahma) and Dujardin (Hello Youmzain), Bolli Belle won the 1340 metres in 1:22.2 on Soft5 footing and paid $6.90 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Owned by the Te Akau Victory Veuve Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Bolli Belle was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $75,000 at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Westbury Stud. 

Incredibly, sire Shamus Award (Snitzel) won the 2013 Cox Plate as a Maiden before franking the form in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, going on to be named Champion Three-Year-Old of the Year.

The son of multiple Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), Shamus Award has been very successful at stud, siring 331 winners that recently clocked over 1000 wins, and 31 individual stakes' winners (including 12 Group One wins).

At the time of purchasing Bolli Belle, Ellis said: “Shamus Award is doing a great job at stud and this is a really nice type of filly. She carries herself beautifully, has terrific balance and just glides when she walks. 

“She is very much in the mould of Shamus Award, and it’s hard to beat the line-up of sires in her dam line: Sebring, Anabaa, Last Tycoon (the sire of O’Reilly), and Champion Australian speed sire Vain.

“We really did pick her up at a good value price and we’re thrilled to be taking her home.”

Dam Fille Champagne, by Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Sebring (More Than Ready), won three races to 1400 metres in Australia, and has already left dual sprint winner Champagne Torque (Capitalist). 

“Sebring has been a high-quality sire influence in Australia, and has a very bright future as a serious broodmare sire,” Ellis added. 

The win delighted Waipukurau owner Michael Ormsby, who reported that having had a share in Quintessa he was keen to be involved in Bolli Belle.

“That’s as good a debut win as I’ve seen in quite a while,” Ormsby said.

“Shamus Award was doing well and so was Quintessa, so I bought a share and I’m really pleased by how Bolli Belle has been coming along.

“She never flinched after racing outside the leader and I like the apprentice, Hayley Hassman, as a rider. 

“Shamus Award is by Snitzel, who is an incredible Champion Sire and sire of sires, and he’s also doing the job as a broodmare sire, now, too.”

Bolli Belle was strapped by Rhiannon Smith. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz