Croatian Belle Heads to the Gold Coast with Perfect Record - Exceedance Half-Sister at MM

Mark Smith - Saturday December 31

Brazen Beau filly Croatian Belle is off to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic with a perfect two-for-two record following a fighting win in the Summer Membership On Sale Now Hcp (1000m) at Moonee Valley.

Two for two (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Michael Dee for Ben and JD Hayes, Croatian Belle travelled outside of leader Extremely Wicked. Levelling up rounding the home turn, Croatian Belle found a willing opponent in the $550,000 daughter of Zoustar, who only conceded in the final 100m to go own by three-quarters of a length.

Godolphin's Fastnet Rock debutant Corniche was two and three-quarter lengths back in third.

Advertisement

Carrying a 3.5kg penalty for her win on debut over the same course and distance on December 12, Croatian Belle has put $175,000 in the bank for her large group of enthusiastic female owners.

Ben Hayes revealed he had agonised over running the daughter of Brazen Beau here or Flemington on New Year's Day.

"It's a relief because I spent all week thinking about which race to run in – luckily, I made the right decision," Hayes said.

"She was great, carrying three and a half extra kilos. It was a beautiful ride by Michael. She has improved and was strong through the line.

"I was under a lot of pressure today because we have all of Grace's (Ramage) family here and my aunty in the horse.

"We have an excitable group of owners heading to a $2.5 million race, so Gold Coast, here we come."

Croatian Belle has already paid for herself (image Grant Courtney)

A $130,000 purchase for Lindsay Park from the Baramul Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Croatian Belle is the first foal of the High Chaparral (IRE) mare Croatian.

A sister to the Group III Rough Habit Plate runner-up A Man to Match, Croatian has a filly from the first crop of Exceedance heading to the Magic Millions in January (lot 1066). 

Runner-up Extremely Wicked has a half-sister from the first crop of Too Darn Hot in the Vinery Stud draft at the Magic Millions. (lot 828).

Croatian missed to Ole Kirk last spring.

Darley Stud's Brazen Beau has ten catalogued for the Magic Millions, 11 in the Inglis Classic, and 18 for the Inglis Premier.

Advertisment

Race Result - Summer Membership On Sale Now 1000m

Moonee Valley Track: Good(4) Time: 0:58.58
1
Croatian Belle
- 2f Brazen Beau (AUS) x Croatian (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 59
2
0.8
Extremely Wicked
- 2f Zoustar (AUS) x Enbihaar (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: B Melham 56.5
3
3.6
Corniche
- 2c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Montsegur (AUS) (New Approach (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: John Allen 58.5
4
8.2
Mansiere
- 2c Brave Smash (JPN) x Double Dee (AUS) (Dubleo (USA))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: M Zahra 58.5
5
9.0
Legacy Rose
- 2f Stratosphere (AUS) x Feisty Rose (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: P Kearney Rdr: J Noonan 55.5
More Reading...
One to Watch – Wyong
Corumbene Stud have bred a lot of good horses including a couple of Golden Slipper winners in Sebring and Overreach, who is the dam of an eye-catching maiden winner at Wyong on Thursday.
Rich Hill Stud Find Early Value at Inglis Chairman’s
With keen competition expected on the big lots later tonight at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, New Zealand based Rich Hill Stud struck early in the evening and found some serious value purchasing Pierro stakes-winner Poifect for just $250,000.
Newgate Turn a Quick Profit with $1million for Eagle Nest
Newgate Bloodstock made a savvy investment at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale last year paying $300,000 for stakes-placed Shalaa (IRE) mare Eagle Nest and 12 months on they were rewarded when selling her for $1million.
Widden Sell Million Dollar Pair of Mares
In a market dominated by off the track fillies and race mares at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, proven producer Enbihaar proved a hot and timely item and was duly snapped up for $1.6 million in foal to champion sire Zoustar.
Bella Nipotina Sells for $4.2million
The highest stake earning mare ever in Australia with the exception of Winx, Everest queen Bella Nipotina was always expected to set the sale ring alight at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Thursday night.
Ciaron Maher a $2million Buyer and $2million Seller
In quick succession at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, champion trainer Ciaron Maher was in the limelight as a buyer and seller with I Am Invincible mare Tiz Invincible departing his stable to the tune of $2.8million, while a few lots later he was a purchaser signing for Too Darn Lizzie at $2.4million.
$1.2 Million for SA Derby Winner Coco Sun
Yulong have an insatiable appetite for classic winning fillies and they snapped up Group I SAJC South Australian Derby winner Coco Sun at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $1.2million.
Yulong Pay $1.55 million for Semana
The first million dollar mare at Inglis Chairman’s came as somewhat of a surprise given Semana has never won a Group I and has not won any race since February 2024, but the good looking daughter of Winning Rupert sold for $1.55million to Walnut Farm aka Yulong.
Yarraman Sell $1.2million Mare in Foal to I Am Invincible
Elite South African race mares have made quite an impact in Australia, notably for producing current superstar 3YO filly Autumn Glow and a mare with the right profile in Under Your Spell (SAfr) hit the target at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale for Yarraman Park when selling for $1.2million.
Brazen Beau's Croatian Belle Impresses on Debut
Croatian Belle will be aimed at the Magic Millions 2yo Classic after the daughter of Brazen Beau made a winning career debut before a large group of enthusiastic female owners in Friday's Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Hcp (1000m) at Moonee Valley.