Everything old is new again, and what a remarkable resurgence New Zealand's imperious 'Belle' family has had in recent times.
From the record-breaking, 14-time Group 1 winning, dual New Zealand Horse Of The Year, Melody Belle, to Godolphin's excitement machine Anamoe, this is a family that keeps on giving.
The latest family member takes her first tentative steps in the Group III Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Drisana (image Ashlea Brennan)
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Drisana looks to have inherited plenty of ability judging by her win at the official two-year-old barrier trials at Randwick-Kensington on September 20.
From the first crop of Merchant Navy, Drisana is no speedy squib.
Scrubbed along by Kerrin McEvoy, Drisana attacked the line when she could have been forgiven to feel the pinch.
Bred by Peter Horwitz, Drisana was a $125,000 purchase by South Australian Donald Dickie from the Segenhoes Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
She is the first foal of the Sebring mare Broadband, who won the Group III SAJC Breeders' Stakes and was runner-up in the Group III SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes.
Drisana a $125,000 Inglis Weanling
Broadband's dam Electric Dreams (Redoute's Choice) is a three-quarter-sister to Group 1 SAJC Oaks heroine Anamato the dam of Anamoe, and a half-sister to Miss Zapper, the dam of Dundeel's dual Group 1 winning juvenile Yourdeel.
This is the family of Newhaven Park Stud's remarkable broodmare Voltage (Whisky Road).
Besides Anamato, Voltage is the dam of Group 1 VATC Oakleigh Plate winner Drum (Marauding) and Listed stakes-winner Port Watch, and is the granddam of 7-time Group 1 winner Grand Armee (Hennessy) and Dealer Principal (Flying Spur), who carried the Horwitz colours to victory in the Group 1 STC Rosehill Guineas.
Broadband has a yearling colt by Deep Field and was covered by Too Darn Hot (GB) last spring.
What a horse - 7-time Group 1 winner Grand Armee (image Mark Smith)
Coolmore Stud's first crop stallion Merchant Navy is also represented by Calico Jack in the Group III Arrowfield Breeders' Plate.
The son of Fastnet Rock made his debut as a March 2yo with a win at Pakenham before keeping the run going with wins at Sandown and Flemington in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes.
He extended the run to four at his 3yo debut when downing Booker in the Group III McNeil Stakes at Caulfield.
Three weeks later, Merchant Navy met his Waterloo in the Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill, won by Trapeze Artist.
It was back to winning ways with a most extraordinary triumph in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. After placing in the Group II Rubiton Stakes and Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, Merchant Navy was off to conquer the world.
A first-up win in the Group II Greenland Stakes at the Curragh was followed a month later by a fighting win in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot to bring the curtain down on his career.
Merchant Navy's Group II winning sister Jolie Bay is the dam of the I Am Invincible colt Emperor, one of the leading chances in the Group III Breeders' Plate.
