Season of Success: Belle Shines Brightly

Announcing herself as one of the season's rising stars, Belle Cheval (3 f Savabeel – Keepa Cheval, by Keeper) produced a performance full of quality when she impressively won the $250,000 Group 3  Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions Night (24 January) at Ellerslie.

Having first caught the eye with an impressive victory over 1400 metres at Ellerslie in October, Belle Cheval confirmed her class with a brave third in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) before enjoying a well-earned spell. Returning fresh for Karaka Millions Night, she looked every bit a filly ready to fulfil her enormous potential.

Drawn barrier two, Champion Australian jockey Craig Williams gave Belle Cheval a perfect economical run along the rail, settling three back before easing into the clear approaching the 300 metres. Once presented with daylight, she quickly put the race beyond doubt, sprinting clear to score in impressive fashion.

By ten-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), Belle Cheval won by one and a quarter lengths, covering the 1200 metres in 1:10.8, with a sharp final 600 metres in 33.9 seconds. She returned NZ TAB dividends of $4.80 and $1.70, taking her record to two wins and two thirds from just four starts.

Her performance was not lost on punters either, with one confident supporter collecting after placing a $30,000 winning bet at odds of $4.20.

The Almanzor Trophy proved to be just the beginning of an outstanding campaign. Belle Cheval went on to claim the Group 3 Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), storm home for a very unlucky short-head second in the $4 million NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m), before finishing her season in unforgettable style with victory in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill in Sydney, firmly placing herself in contention for Champion Three-Year-Old and Horse of the Year honours.

Bred by Archer Investments for owners D L Archer, S C Archer, N N Micarone and D J Wright, Belle Cheval is out of race winner Keepa Cheval, who has proven an outstanding producer. Her progeny include triple Group One winner Bostonian (Jimmy Choux), Group 3 Championship Stakes (2100m) winner Cheval D'Or (Almanzor), together accounting for 10 individual victories at stakes' level among eight winners of 26 races.

Another daughter, Vitesse (Makfi), is the dam of Queensland Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Kovalica (Ocean Park), who also added two Group Two victories and a Group Three success to his outstanding record.

The family traces back to second dam Sheila Cheval (Mi Preferido), whose greatest flagbearer was the mighty Mufhasa (Pentire), winner of 10 Group One races and dual New Zealand Horse of the Year.

Te Akau feels privileged to have been entrusted to guide Belle Cheval's career for her owner breeders.  Her victory also provided Te Akau with a fifth success in the Almanzor Trophy, following previous wins by New Zealand's record 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle (Commands), Champion Two-Year-Old and now exciting young sire Sword Of State (Snitzel), brilliant sprinter Need I Say More (No Nay Never), and Champion Two-Year-Old Maven Belle (Burgundy).

Belle Cheval is now in training at Te Akau's Melbourne stable as she prepares for an exciting Spring campaign.

Te Akau's previous winners of the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m):

2023 – Maven Belle (Burgundy)

2022 – Sword Of State (Snitzel)

2021 – Need I Say More (No Nay Never)

2018 – Melody Belle (Commands)