First Stakes Win for Iffraaj Mare La Flora Belle

Media Release - Saturday November 26

Progressive staying mare La Flora Belle set the scene for further success over the summer months with a determined effort to take out the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) on Saturday.

La Flora Belle heads to the Wanganui winning post as she takes out the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) Photo: Race Images – Peter Rubery

The Mark Walker-trained five-year-old had picked up her first career victory back in February and added a second before being set aside for a decent winter break.

Off the back of her third victory two starts ago and a last start second in the Waipukurau Cup (1600m), Walker stepped the daughter of Iffraaj up to stakes company for the first time on Saturday and she delivered in fine style, courtesy of a copybook ride from stable apprentice Joe Kamaruddin.

Kamaruddin provided La Flora Belle with the run of the race as he tracked the speed on the fence before angling her into the clear early in the run home.

Despite a few wayward strides, the mare kept finding to decisively defeat Charms Star and Llanacord and record her first stakes success.

“She has been a while in the making this mare but that is the beauty of Marie Leicester, who bred her and part-owns her, in that she is just so patient and gives her horses the time to come to it when they are ready,” Walker said.

“We’ve stepped her up gradually and this was her first go at this level and she has acquitted herself with honours.

“It was also a gun ride by Joe as he had her beautifully placed and worked into it at just the right time.

Advertisement

“He has really matured with his riding of late and this was a good example of that.”

Walker will now look at another potential black-type target with the mare, although he still has some doubts about her maturity to cope with the longer distances of some of the opportunities coming up over the summer.

“We found out today that she can definitely handle the 2000m, but there aren’t many handicap races run at stakes level over the summer around that distance,” he said.

“We will take a look at the calendar with a race like the Manawatu Cup (Gr.3, 2300m) in December an option.

“That will tell us whether she can cope with that extra distance and if she can’t then we have the option of easing off a little and looking at a race like the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) on her home track in February as another option.”

Out of Leicester’s Stravinsky mare Tsarina Belle, a member of the illustrious Belle family, La Flora Belle has now won four of her 15 starts.

She comes from an extended family that includes dual New Zealand Horse Of the Year, Melody Belle who won 19 races, with 14 of those at Group One level. - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Steelform Roofing Wanganui Cup LR 2040m

Wanganui Track: Slow(7) Time: 2:13.08
1
La Flora Belle
- 5m Iffraaj (GB) x Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: J Kamaruddin 53
2
1.3
Charms Star
- 5m Per Incanto (USA) x Anniesstar (NZ) (Zed (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: K Asano 54.5
3
1.4
Llanacord
- 5m Contributer (IRE) x L'accord (NZ) (Golan (IRE))
Tnr: S Nickalls Rdr: S J O'Malley 53
4
1.9
Platinum Invador
- 7g Redwood (GB) x Atomic Dancer (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: L J Allpress 60
5
2.4
Tamahine
- 6m Proisir (AUS) x Pirinitete (NZ) (Johar (USA))
Tnr: Ms G Temperton Rdr: D G Bradley 53
6
2.9
Hunta Pence
- 10g No Excuse Needed (GB) x Vanitas (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: F P Campbell Rdr: R H Schofer 59
7
3.3
Quiz Kid
- 6g Iffraaj (GB) x Guessing (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: S C Phelan Rdr: K R Hercock 53.5
7
3.3
Lilly Laguna
- 5m Rios (NZ) x Savarose (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: J G Bary Rdr: M K Hudson 53
9
6.1
Prince Leo
- 6g Jimmy Choux (NZ) x Hoorang (NZ) (Zerpour (IRE))
Tnr: I A Shaw Rdr: L Kauri 54.5
10
6.9
Thomas Aquinas
- 7g Jakkalberry (IRE) x True Star (NZ) (Ishiguru (USA))
Tnr: Trudy & Vaughan Keegan Rdr: M Singh 53
11
8.4
Mondorani
- 8g Burgundy (NZ) x Del Mondo (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: K T Myers Rdr: F W Lazet 53
12
19.4
Hacksaw Ridge
- 5g Power (GB) x Tintintinette (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Ms J Rayner Rdr: M Mudhoo 53
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
The Rosehill trials on Friday morning featured a couple of juvenile heats and both winners came out of the Widden Stud draft at Magic Millions with one topping the sale at $2.8million and the other selling for a modest $150,000.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZB Breeze Up Footage Now Available to View Online
The highly anticipated Breeze Up videos for NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale are now available to view online at nzb.co.nz.
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Melbourne Cup Next for UK Raider Onesmoothoperator
Winner of the Group III Geelong Cup last year at his first Australian appearance, UK trained stayer Onesmoothoperator (USA) had not won a race since then but was back in the winning groove last night take out the $750,000 Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
Winning Return for Blueblood I Am Invincible Filly
Last seen finishing an unlucky fourth in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May, speedy I Am Invincible filly Sisstainable returned from a spell at Moonee Valley on Friday night to score a tenacious win.