G3 Victory for Redwood Filly Bellatrix Black

Media Release - Saturday March 5

Lightly raced filly Bellatrix Black ($17.20) upset the applecart at Ellerslie on Saturday when she stepped up from a maiden victory at Tauranga at her last start to take out the Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m).

Bellatrix Black defeats Mustang Valley in the Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

The Catherine Cameron-trained daughter of Westbury Stud stallion Redwood relished every step of the 2100m journey as she bullocked her way through the middle of the pack to down pacemaker Mustang Valley and Achieve in a desperate finish to the contest.

Ridden by Japanese-born rider Taiki Yanagida, who has only recently stepped into the senior riding ranks after serving his apprenticeship with the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott stable, Bellatrix Black looked to be travelling comfortably throughout before making a move to improve her midfield position at the 800m.

Blocked for a run rounding the home bend, Yanagida waited for a gap to appear centre-track before bursting through late to get the better of Mustang Valley by a head, with a further short head away to Achieve in third.

The 2100m journey was completed in a modest 2.13.21, with three-and-a-half lengths covering the first nine across the line, but the victory of Bellatrix Black was well and truly deserved.

Cameron had been cautiously optimistic about her chances leading into the race and was delighted to see the filly deliver on her promise.

“That was fantastic and a great result for her owners who rolled the dice and didn’t sell her after her last win,” Cameron said.

“It’s a great thrill for them.

“I was a little bit cheeky hoping she could run in the first five as she has just been a lovely filly to have as she is quite progressive.

“She is relatively fresh compared to some of these, so it was good to see that today.

“We hoped she could take the next step up and we were going to find that out today.

Advertisement

“She has had a cheeky nom for the New Zealand Oaks and we might have to trek to Wellington now, if she comes through this well.”

Bookmakers reacted quickly to the victory, shortening Bellatrix Black from a $31 chance in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks into the $10 fourth favourite behind the Jamie Richards-trained Self Obsession ($2.20).

Yanagida was all smiles after the win, which was his second on the day after guiding Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) candidate Swords Drawn to victory over 2200m earlier in the day

“She has just impressed me as she is such a tough girl,” he said.

“I was going to go to the outside, but the favourite (Glory Bound) came around us, so I saw the inside had opened up space and when she had run second at Te Aroha, she had run on well on the inside so I knew she could do it.

“Catherine and I had been talking that 2400m would be better for her, so she is going to perform well over that distance, I’m sure.”

Bred and raced by Dave McKerchar and Janet Alexander Bellatrix Black is the first foal out of Mastercraftsman mare Dark Arts and comes from an extended family that includes dual Group One winner Lotteria.

The Sunline Vase is the penultimate leg in the prestigious New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year series where Bellatrix Black has collected six points for her victory and now sits in the top ten on the points table which is headed by the Jamie Richards-trained Self Obsession (24) with the final race series being the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 19.

Redwood will be represented by four individuals during the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale that will be held from March 7-12 at Karaka. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Sunline Vase Gr3 2100m

Ellerslie Track: Dead(4) Time: 2:13.21
1
Bellatrix Black
- 3f Redwood (GB) x Dark Arts (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: Ms C Cameron Rdr: T Yanagida 56.5
2
0.2
Mustang Valley
- 3f Vanbrugh (AUS) x Cream Of The Crop (AUS) (New Approach (IRE))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: V A Colgan 56.5
3
0.3
Achieve
- 3f Pierro (AUS) x Thee Achiever (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: R T Elliot 56.5
Pierro
4
1.6
Glory Bound
- 3f Tavistock (NZ) x The Tidy Express (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: S Autridge & K Shailer Rdr: S R Weatherley 56.5
5
2.4
Le Villi
- 3f Puccini (NZ) x Mapperley Magic (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: J R Wheeler Rdr: L J Allpress 56.5
6
2.6
Belle En Rouge
- 3f Burgundy (NZ) x Cavendish Belle (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: J Kamaruddin 56.5
7
2.8
Bigiff
- 3f Iffraaj (GB) x Bigmissy (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: G Richardson & R Norvall Rdr: A C Goindasamy 56.5
8
3.1
Outfit
- 3f Tivaci (AUS) x Costume (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: J Parkes 56.5
9
3.5
Miss Ella
- 3f Iffraaj (GB) x Zenella (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: M J Mc Nab 56.5
10
5.7
Invincibeel
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Matakana (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: K Asano 56.5
11
6.7
Cruisy Lass
- 3f Super Easy (NZ) x Thornbird Lass (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: C W Gibbs Rdr: L H Satherley 56.5
12
17.3
Thatsallshewrote
- 3f Wrote (IRE) x Lilyput (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: M Hashizume 56.5
More Reading...
Hong Kong Buyer Secures Top Lot June (Late) Sale at $500,000
The impact of the recent success in Hong Kong of horses sourced on Inglis Digital was in evidence today, with the top lot and the third top lot bought by Hong Kong-based owners.
Positive Build Up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.
Raging Force Bolts in at Randwick
Cosmic Force 2YO Raging Force was sent around in the Group III ATC Breeder’s Plate on debut last spring finishing sixth to King Kirk and coming out of the race with an injury, but time and a patient approach has put his career back on track.
G1 Tatts Tiara – Where Are They Now?
The last Group I race of the Australian racing season, the $700,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) will be run this Saturday and as a fillies and mares feature the winner is often headed straight to stud, so we’re taking a look at where these girls are at.
Nice 2YO Winner for Vinery Value Sire
He might be the least expensive sire on the Vinery roster this spring at a fee of just $6,600, but Headwater gets his share of winners and produced a new two year-old winner at Doomben on Wednesday.
One To Watch – Randwick
After impressing on debut, the Chris Waller trained 3yo Super Seth filly Frosty Girl (NZ) took on the older mares on the Kensington track, remaining unbeaten with another stylish victory to become Breednet’s One To Watch.
Royal Ascot Day 5 – Runaway, Rising Empire and My Best Friend
After five spectacular days of racing, Royal Ascot is over with the finale overnight producing high drama with a runaway G1 winner, the rise of a racing empire and the first stakes horse for St Mark’s Basilica.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.