Written by Kit Gow
Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
The real Bel Merci hit the track this week after finishing third to North England last Monday, in a dominating performance at the Kembla Grange trials ahead of carving a path to the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes. Fellow Bell River Thoroughbreds-bred Commanding Belle was a strong winner, and Lofty Arch won a final jump-out at Cranbourne ahead of his return to the races.
Bel Merci rocks rivals en route to Slipper
G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Bel Merci (Extreme Choice) didn’t hold back in her third trial of the preparation on Monday morning, where she led the field home by a widening 8.3l under Zac Lloyd. Trained by John Thompson, the 2-year-old filly ran the meeting’s fastest trial time at 46.90s - over a second faster than the next quickest time - and the fastest last finishing 600 metres, letting rip to cover the last three furlongs in 32.32s, almost a second faster than North England's (Farnan) closing 600 metres when they clashed last Monday.
Video: Watch Bel Merci trial replay
She is expected to resume in the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes on February 22.
Bel Merci is retained to race by breeders Bell River Thoroughbreds, who offered her half-brother by Farnan at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last month, where Anthony Freedman Racing, Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA), and Kia Ora Stud purchased him for $350,000. Dam Bel Mer (Bel Esprit), winner of the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes, expects a full brother to the colt next spring.
Farnan filly tears away at Kembla Grange
Robert and Luke Price’s Commanding Belle (Farnan) ticked over comfortably with a strong 1.3l win in her trial on Monday morning at Kembla Grange. The 2-year-old filly had run third on debut to hot colt Rivellino (Too Darn Hot {GB}) at the beginning of January.
Bell River Thoroughbreds also bred this filly, and offered a full sister at Magic Millions last month, who was snapped up for $220,000 by Noble Racing and Robert & Luke Price Racing. Commanding Belle is the first foal of Amazing Belle (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), a half-sister NZ Horse Of The Year and 14-time G1 winner Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands).
Lofty Arch revs up for autumn return
Listed Gothic Stakes winner Lofty Arch (Snitzel) looked smart when extending out to win a Cranbourne jump-out on Monday morning. The 3-year-old colt has been tipped by trainer Alex Rae to resume in the G3 Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield on February 22.
The son of G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Soneva (USA) Cherokee Run {USA}), Lofty Arch was a $200,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale acquisition for The Lofty Thoroughbreds Group from Twin Hills Stud. He is a half-brother 20-time winner Champion Older Male in Qatar The Blue Eye (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and to See You Soon (Siyouni {Fr}), dam of G1 Flight Stakes-placed Snow In May (The Autumn Sun).
Ole Kirk filly tears away in Bunbury debut
Another impressive trial winner on Monday came on the Bunbury track over in Western Australia, where Ole Kirk filly Leg Godt flew home under the steering of Chris Parnham to beat Warning Label (Harry Angel {Ire}) by 3.58l. It was the 2-year-old filly’s first public appearance for trainer Michael Lane.
Michael Lane Racing and Tom Johnson Bloodstock paid $50,000 for the filly bred by Ascot Heath, Ridgmont Farm, and Vinery Stud when she was offered by Berkeley Park at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale last year. Dam Introduction (Grey Swallow {Ire}) is a half-sister to Group 3-winning Tuscan Sling (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), and Middlebrook Valley Lodge will offer a half-brother by Stay Inside at this year’s Adelaide sale.
