Fiorente's Baronova Bounces Back in Belmont Classic

Mark Smith - Saturday July 17

The Fiorente (IRE) filly Baronova came from last to score a last stride win in a thrilling finish to Saturday’s Listed Belmont Classic (2200m) at Belmont Park.

Baronova (image Western Racepix twitter)

Give a patient ride by Willie Pike, Baronova made her run down the centre of the track. In a slogging finish, the Justin Warwick-trained filly defeated the Reliable Man gelding Truly Reliable by a short-head with a short-half-head back to the only other filly in the race Chili Is Hot (Gingerbread Man), in third.  After three consecutive wins, Baronova blotted her copybook when a disappointing sixth at her most recent start in the Belmont Oaks won by Chili Is Hot.

Justin Warwick said the daughter of Fiorente (IRE) can be forgiven for that run.

“It was a very exciting race. A small field and we were last in a slowly run race, so it was always going to be hard,” Warwick said.  

“I’ll be honest, even at the 150m, I thought we were going to finish fourth or fifth. The others started to get a bit tired, and Willie lifted her over the line.

“I don’t think anyone else would have lifted her, especially considering he dropped his whip at the top of the straight; that is how strong and talented he is.

“She got flattened in the (Belmont) Oaks, and she didn’t pick up. It looked ordinary, so they have to come out and show they are up to it, especially against the colts.

“I think she is a great filly going forward. I think she will have a good career on the east coast at some stage over the longer trips and she will run two miles at some stage as her dad did.

Advertisement

“I will be taking a break (from training) for a bit, so there’s nothing like going out on a high.”    

 A homebred for the Vam Heemst family’s Lynward Park Stud, Baronova is a half-sister to the Group III WATC La Trice Classic winner I’m Feeling Lucky (Bletchley Park) and the multiple stakes-placed Utgard Loki (Frost Giant).

Baronova is out of the unraced Danehill (USA) mare Twinkle Toes, a three-quarter sister to Sumora (IRE), the dam of Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Maybe (Galileo), the dam of Coolmore Stud’s Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas and Group 1 Racing Post Trophy winner Saxon Warrior.

Purchased by John Chalmers Bloodstock for $72,500 at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale, Twinkle Toes is a half-sister to the dam of Group 1 VRC Emirates Stakes winner Awesome Rock and Group III BTC Doomben Roses and Group 1 placed Awesome Planet.

The dam of Twinkle Toes, Band Of Angels (Alzao), is a half-sister to Epsom Derby winner Dr Devious (IRE), Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Shinko King (JPN) and Group III Greenlands Stakes winner Archway (IRE), who all became successful stallions.

Twinkle Toes has a yearling colt by Manhattan Rain named American Songbook and a weanling filly by More Than Ready (USA).

Baronova becomes the seventh stakes-winner for Widden Stud’s Melbourne cup hero Fiorente (IRE), who stands at a fee of $11,000 at the Victorian property this spring.  

Fiorente

Advertisment

Race Result - Drummond Golf Belmont Classic LR 2200m

Belmont Park Track: Heavy(8) Time: 2:23.73
1
Baronova
- 3f Fiorente (IRE) x Twinkle Toes (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: J T Warwick Rdr: W Pike 54.5
Fiorente
2
0.1
Truly Reliable
- 3g Reliable Man (GB) x La Roseraie (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Raymond Vincent Rdr: Shelby Bowtell 56.5
3
0.2
Chili Is Hot
- 3f Gingerbread Man (AUS) x Society Gal (NZ) (Faltaat (USA))
Tnr: G C Ballantyne Rdr: J Whiting 54.5
4
1.1
Tradem' In
- 3g Trade Fair (GB) x Movie World (AUS) (Arazi (USA))
Tnr: T R Harvey Rdr: P Harvey 56.5
5
1.5
Kerman Rock
- 3g Snippetson (AUS) x Brimarsco (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C G Willis Rdr: Lucy Warwick 56.5
6
1.6
Tena Koutou
- 3g Blackfriars (AUS) x Aloha Miss (AUS) (Hurricane Sky (AUS))
Tnr: A G Durrant Rdr: C Johnston-Porter 56.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 6
Here is the full list of 68 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New Sprint Star for WA?
Oakland Park's veteran WA sire Sessions is rarely without a good horse to represent him, and the son of Lonhro now has his sixth stakes winner after exciting 3YO galloper Repossession spanked the older horses to win the Listed Beaufine Stakes at Pinjarra Park.
Group 1 Durban July Success For Son Of Australian Bred Gimmethegreenlight
Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.
Spring Goals Await Caloundra Cup Winner Half Yours
With spring staying features on their minds, Tony and Calvin McEvoy sent their improving stayer north to Queensland for Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) with instant success as the 4yo gelding Half Yours romped home by four and a half lengths.
Debut Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
Set to shuttle to Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (FR) had an impressive debut winner overnight in the UK with Cape Ashizuri opening his account in style.
Resolute Racing Win G1 Prix Jean Prat – Wootton Bassett Sire Power
A crackerjack meeting at Deauville in France overnight highlighted the power of Wootton Bassett (GB), who sired yet another new two year-old stakes-winner and he also featured as the grand-sire of Woodshauna, who captured the Group I Prix Jean Prat (1400m) for US based Resolute Racing.
New Juvenile Stakes-Winner Wootton Bassett
A two year-old Wootton Bassett  colt bred to stay, Daytona made it two wins as many starts when scoring a dominant win in the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes (1m) at Naas in Ireland overnight.
Stakes Success for Spritely 7YO Warhorse
Pearce Racing's seven year old warhorse Ginger Baker collected his first ever stakes win in the Listed 2200m South West Cup yesterday.
Sixth Winner for Anders
First past the post at Wyong on June 24, talented Anders filly Sapling lost that race on protest, but quickly made amends when returning to the same track on Saturday to score her first actual victory.
Dubawi Colt from $US8million Mare Wins G1 Coral Eclipse for Coolmore
Blueblood Dubawi colt Delacroix was a beaten favourite in the Group I Epsom Derby when unplaced behind his stablemate Lambourn, but he found his time to shine overnight when scoring a miraculous last to first win in the Group I Coral Eclipse Stakes (1m2f) at Sandown.