Group 3 Glory for Belle

Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson's confidence in a filly on the rise was confirmed on Karaka Millions Night at Ellerslie, when Belle Cheval (3 f Savabeel – Keepa Cheval, by Keeper) impressively won the $250,000 Group 3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m).

Having announced herself as a filly of reckoning when winning impressively over 1400 metres on the course in October, Belle Cheval followed the performance with third in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m), at which time she then returned home for a spell.

She displayed her readiness to resume racing when making up plenty of ground in the straight to finish just behind the leaders in a trial on 11 January at Ellerslie, and with the booking of Champion Jockey Craig Williams and barrier two, she rated a top three chance.

Mapping to receive an economical trip on the inner, Belle Cheval travelled comfortably three back, seized a gap at the 300m and put a good field away in real style.

“We love coming over here,” said Melbourne-based Williams, who a year ago won the Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) for Te Akau aboard subsequent Group One winner and Champion Two-Year-Old La Dorada (Super Seth).

“She’s a really nice filly, she was favourite for a reason, and fact that she was first-up over 1200m and she could utilize the barrier draw. She won untouched, today.

“Mark (Walker) said to me, “use your barrier draw but don’t over ride her”, and they’re a professional outfit and she’s a lovely horse to do anything with.”

It was also a game performance for third by stable-mate Drops Of God (Hello Youmzain), who had previously won both her starts, including a course/distance victory on 1 January. 

A quality filly of the highest order by 10-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), Belle Cheval won by one and a quarter-lengths, ran 1200 metres in 1:10.8, last 600m in 34.0 (approx.), paid $4.80 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote, and took her record to two wins and two thirds, from four starts.

One punter summed it up perfectly, with a $30,000 win on Belle Cheval at $4.20. 

“Her work on Tuesday was just sensational, and Sam and I thought you don’t often see horses work as good. 

“But that’s why we love taking horses to Riccarton in the spring, as well, and the trip away just made her. Mentally, she was a bit soft going down there, but with that experience she’s come back more mature and she’s got it all ahead of her.”

Walker said that Belle Cheval would now contest the $120,000 Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) on Saturday 14 February at Matamata, before the $4 million NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m) on Saturday March 7 at Ellerslie, for which she is now $8.00 & $2.75 in the TAB futures market.

“The 1500m will be right up her alley in the NZB Kiwi, and perhaps we’ll go to the Lisa Chittick at Matamata, home track advantage, and obviously Lisa was a very special person to all the Te Akau crew and we’d love to win that race.”

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 – triple Group One – Bostonian (Jimmy Choux) has now left eight winners of 26 races. 

It was the fifth win by Te Akau in the Group 3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m), having won it previously with New Zealand Group One (14) record-holder Melody Belle (Commands), Champion Two-Year-Old and now exciting young sire Sword Of State (Snitzel), highly talented sprinter Need I Say More (No Nay Never), and most recently with in 2023 with homebred filly and Champion Two-Year-Old Maven Belle (Burgundy).

“It’s a great race to win again and we have to thank both David & Di (Archer) for giving us the filly to train, and also to Sir Brendan Lindsay & Lady Jo at Cambridge Stud for sponsoring the race,” Ellis said.

“We have a strong connection to the race and to Cambridge Stud through Sword Of State winning the race, after we bought him as a yearling on the Gold Coast, and he’s doing a fantastic job at stud.

“This filly (Belle Cheval) certainly looks something special and it was great to be able to have Craig Williams come over from Australia, and give her such a brilliant ride.

“She’s going from strength to strength, is by our Champion Sire (Savabeel) that Te Akau has had an enormous amount of success with.”

Belle Cheval was strapped by Rasheed Alam.

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