Gun mare Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto) has had plenty of success raiding the northern riches at Ellerslie and she’ll be back to do just that on Saturday, taking on the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m).
A two-time winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), Belclare spent the first half of the season in Sydney with Bjorn Baker, adding a pair of Group Twos and over A$1 million in earnings to her already dazzling Kiwi record.
Returning to the care of Lisa Latta, the Per Incanto mare attempted a defence of her Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) crown on Karaka Millions night but faded after a tough trip three-wide, a result her trainer is happy to forgive.
“She had a really tough run, she was caught three-wide with no cover and I think that effort told,” she said.
The soft conditions at Ellerslie were not in Belclare’s favour on that occasion, but after pleasing Latta in the lead-up, a firm track should bring her back into contention, with the TAB market currently placing her a fourth-favourite at $10.
“Ellerslie suits her when it’s really firm, which it wasn’t on Karaka Millions Night, but the forecast looks good for this weekend,” Latta said.
“She had a few days in the paddock and come back, she’s been for a trip to Otaki for a gallop and I’m really happy with her. She looks great.”
Latta confirmed that, all going well on Saturday, the seven-year-old will return to defend her title and chase a three-peat in the Breeders’ on Champions Day.
The Awapuni horsewoman will have a busy week with more than a dozen runners lining up at Wanganui and Otaki, with the latter featuring talented mare Belle’s Echo (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) in the Open 1200m.
A winner of five, Belle’s Echo impressed winning first-up and continued that form into third at the Wellington Cup meeting, before disappointing on the back-up over 1400m.
“We gave her a week off, it was a really disappointing run and I just don’t think she backed up, which she’s done once before,” Latta said. “We’re going in here a bit on the fresher side.”
Stable stalwart Lincoln Star (NZ) (Savabeel) and Group One winner He’s A Doozy had both been nominated for the open mile, but the latter may be seen further south next Saturday, with Latta considering a bid at the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m).
“He’s A Doozy probably won’t run, he’ll more likely head down to Wingatui for the weight-for-age,” she said. “We’ll work him tomorrow morning and make a final decision.
“Lincoln Star has done plenty of work, but it’s probably a bit short of his best on Saturday.”
The colours of Belclare will also be represented in the South Island, with her full-brother Ardroe (NZ) (Per Incanto) travelling to Ashburton on Sunday to contest the Scenic Hotel Group (1200m).
“He’s gone down this morning, he’s just going down for the run at this stage,” Latta said. “There’s just a lack of suitable races up here and he suits those shorter courses well.”
Meanwhile, Latta’s talented three-year-old filly Connello (NZ) (Time Test) is on track for a shot at the $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in a month’s time.
Connello has been a model of consistency, only falling short to Oaks favourite Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), while recording the fastest closing sectionals in the latter.
“She’s a very easy and clean-winded filly, she’ll go to the Lowland (Gr.2, 2100m) and then on to the Oaks, all going well,” Latta said.
