Belle Detelle (+450) has shown that she will be a strong contender in the Group 1 Australian Oaks, following a tough victory in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes on the opening day of The Championships at Randwick.
Trainer Chris Waller and the connections of the Zed filly couldn’t have asked for a better ride from Damian Lane, as he allowed her to settle towards the back of the field before running on strongly, holding off a challenge from Polymnia (+170), who was the race favourite with horse racing bookmakers.
Exlusive Artist (+900) took up the lead early from Inevitable Truth (+1700) on a moderate tempo in the 2000m contest, while the likes of Kaffir Lily (+6000) and Canny Queen (+900) settled behind the speed, keeping Dominetta (+1000) three-wide without cover.
As the field ran past the 600m pole, the runs started to come from the swoopers, with the eventual winner and Polymnia finishing off nicely on the outside of the big field.
You Whang (+900) took over at the 300m mark, but it was short-lived, as the two favourites swept on by to fight out the finish in the last 100m of the race.
Zac Lloyd tried to get everything out of Polymnia; however, they couldn’t get past Lane on Belle Detelle as she continued to find late and recorded a half-length victory.
Chris Waller spoke about the victory post-race.
“It’s very special. We’ve always had a soft spot for her and we knew when we got her to 2000m she would start to excel because of that pedigree,” Waller said.
“But until you do it on race day, it’s easier to talk about it than do it, so it was great to see.”
“I actually thought she might have been in a little bit of trouble at the 400m, Damian was at work on her, but she was really strong the last 100m.
“Look, she’s had a long prep, she’s going to be fit enough if we decide to, but at the same time, do we back off and go to Queensland for a Queensland Oaks?
“I’ll have a talk to Damian and see what he says.
“It’s always been a target for the last month or so, where we got to from here wasn’t so much in the sights. So today was the target.”
Damian Lane echoed similar thoughts about the winner, but he confirmed that she was too tough late.
“Yeah, having a very good run, so great support which is what you need coming into these big race days. She was tough today,” Lane said.
“She joined in nicely and I thought the second horse was going to get me but she really stuck her neck out when it counted.
“Just, I think, being a little bit lost off the bend first race day pressure on this leg, she got a little bit lost but once she got a bit of competition she was able to knuckle down.
“I think the distance wouldn’t be a trouble, she’s just a bit of a keen-going horse, so whether she settles well enough and she’s lightly framed too.
“So I’ll leave that to the best in the business, the Waller stable, to see if she’s appropriate.”
Belle Detelle is a +1300 chance with Picklebet in the Group 1 Australian Oaks futures markets.
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