It’s hard to describe the win of a $12 third favourite as an upset but that is what consistent mare Bold Belle (NZ) (The Bold One) landed when she led all the way at Trentham over 1100m on Saturday.
Punters had their sights focused on the multiple Group One placed mare Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) ($2.30) and last start winner Wewillrock (NZ) (El Roca) ($1.90) in the open event named in honour of Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick, who is celebrating his eightieth birthday.
Bold Belle looked anything like a drifting third favourite in the five-horse field as apprentice Jim Chung bounced her quickly to the head of proceedings and dictated terms to the two favourites.
Travelling sweetly through the Trentham crossing Bold Belle put some distance on Wewillrock and Babylon Berlin who were chasing hard and she refused to yield in the run home, holding out the pair by a length and a half at the post in a slick 1.03.60 for the journey on a Soft 7 rated surface.
Trainer Bryce Newman was full of smiles after the contest and was thankful for some advice he received from the mare’s regular rider Kate Hercock in respect of taking advantage of an apprentice riding her, thereby reducing the mare’s impost to a mere 51kgs with Chung’s 3kg claim.
“I thought when I saw the noms oh crikey this could be a bit tough,” Newman said.
“I have to thank Kate who said it’s time to claim off Belle as she has got a lot easier to ride of late.
“We got a big pull in the weights today and the track suits, so I’m stoked.
“I said to Jimmy don’t let them cross you and her fourth in the Listed race (1200m) first up was pretty good.
“She hasn’t always wanted to settle, but I told Jimmy today is not the day to settle just go for it and he did.
“We did have a lot on our side, and we might put her aside for a while now as she doesn’t really like the real deep tracks.”
Chung was also beaming as he accepted congratulations from his supporters.
“It was only 1100m today and Bryce told me to go forward,” he said.
“I think the light weight has helped her out and she tried a lot.
“She didn’t pull too hard and settled nicely so she is going well. I couldn’t hear anything coming near me so that was pretty lucky.”
By The Bold One out of the five-race winner Gossiping (NZ) (Al Akbar), Bold Belle has now won four of her 15 starts and $95,000 in prizemoney.
