Belardo Boy Wins Another G3

Media Release - Saturday September 23

Deteriorating track conditions at Awapuni that saw a Soft5 surface turned to a Heavy10 due to persistent rain throughout the day, played right into the hands of local runner Belardo Boy who revelled in the conditions when taking out the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m).

Joe Doyle uses every inch of the Awapuni straight to guide Belardo Boy to victory in the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m).  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The Lisa Latta-trained five-year-old was having his first run back from a short spell after securing victory in the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton in early August.

Fitted for Saturday’s assignment with a solid 1200m trial at Foxton, Belardo Boy looked primed for a top performance and that was what his supporters got as he swooped down the outer of the track in the hands of Joe Doyle to gather in stablemates Ladies Man and Justaskme in the final 100m of a keenly contested event.

Latta, who had taken out the preceding event with Old Town Road, was thrilled to see her charge prevail courtesy of a copybook ride from Doyle on the testing track.

“He got in with a nice weight today (54.5kgs) and relaxed a treat from a nice draw,” Latta said.

“Joe can ride light and that is a big assist as he is riding very well.

“I’m not convinced he is a true heavy tracker, but it’s a Spring heavy track today which he can handle.”

Advertisement

Latta will now set the horse for the Gr.3 Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on 21 October, despite some concerns about the weight he will be allotted in the contest.

“We will probably go to the Thompson Handicap at Trentham next,” she said.

“He’s starting to get up in the weights now, but we will look to go there as he goes so well at Wellington.”

Belardo Boy has now won eight of his 30 starts and over $260,000 in prizemoney after he was purchased for just $28,000 by Latta from the Haunui Farm draft during the Book 2 Sale at Karaka in 2020.

His dam L’Amour, who was also trained by Latta, won seven races and was stakes placed while he is also closely related to dual Group One winner Julinsky Prince.

Race favourite Ladies Man ($2.70) was far from disgraced when finishing close up in second in just his third start in a new campaign, while stablemate Justaskme battled home resolutely under his topweight of 60.5kgs for trainer Allan Sharrock. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vinery Stud Announce Adam White as Interim Manager
From the 1st of July, Vinery Stud is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam White as Interim General Manager, following the resignation of Peter Orton. A dedicated and long-standing member of the Vinery team, Adam brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of both the business and the industry to this pivotal role.
Unbeaten So You Think 3YO WA's New Excitement Machine
One month to the day since he first set foot on a racecourse, So You Think’s three year old son  Opportunistic remains undefeated from three starts, is a dual stakes winner with earnings of $200,250 to his name, and is WA's new rising star of the turf.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Red Right Out Wins MM Queensland Qualifier
The 2026 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping will feature the third annual Queensland Off-The-Track Cup (QOTT) final on Sunday, 11 January 2026 at Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast. 
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Wootton Bassett Winning Whirl
It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.