An elite G1 winning sprinter miler in her home land of New Zealand, Belclare came to Sydney chasing spring riches and found the mother lode in the $2million Group II ATC The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Connections of Belclare have savoured a bumper payday as the seven-year-old daughter of Per Incanto proved too strong for an elite field that featured three other G1 winning mares.
Under a positive Tyler Schiller ride, Belclare had most of her rivals gasping a fair way from home and she sailed to a comfortable length and a quarter victory as the former Kiwi saluted at her third start for Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker.
“I’m very lucky to get this mare,” Baker said. “She’s a dual Group One winner in New Zealand. Lisa Latta is one of New Zealand’s best trainers so I’ve got a ready-made horse for the owners, Deb and Dave Woodhouse.
“They entrusted me with her. It’s been a bit of a learning curve but we got it right today. And this is the day that we wanted to get it right, so I’m very grateful.”
The expat Kiwi horseman was delighted to pull off a feature win with the mare he had been bullish about since joining his stable and will now consider the next plans.
“We’ll just have a good think about it but she was very good today,” Baker said. “She was able to dominate. She’s a very good mare, so that makes it easy. When you’ve got good quality bloodstock, she makes me look good. I’m very grateful to get the opportunity.
“She has beaten some absolute topliners. She said she’s up to it. And we know, Kiwis, they’re always strong.”
Raced by her breeder David Woodhouse, time had been called on Belclare’s racing career last season, with the two-time winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeder’s Stakes (1600m) destined to be sold as a broodmare.
She was subsequently offered at Magic Millions' National Broodmare Sale, where she failed to meet her $700,000 reserve.
While initially disappointed with the outcome, Woodhouse has now got good reason to smile as the A$1 million first prize in the Australian Group Two advanced the mare’s career earnings to A$1,934,780.
Belclare has now won 12 races, 11 of which were in the care of Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta.
By outstanding Little Avondale Stud sire Per Incanto, Belclare is the third foal from the O’Reilly mare Miss Rhythmic, a winner of one race and herself a sister to Luxe, who ran third in the Listed Taranaki Oaks Prelude.
They are out of the Keeper mare Gymnast who in turn was out of the champion filly of her year in Olga’s Pal, whose six wins included the Gr. 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). – NZ Racing Desk
