Juvenile Trial Watch – Kembla

Tara Madgwick - Monday February 10

Farnan colt North England was the talk of the town after thrashing Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes winner Bel Merci in a barrier trial at Rosehill last Monday in lightning fast time when she appeared to hang in under pressure down the running and as a result she was quietly sent to Kembla this morning for a take two and it was a very different story.

Sent out in an 800m heat with Zac Lloyd in the saddle for the first time, having been ridden by Chad Schofield in all her previous trials and her one raced day win, Bel Merci was put back on track in a big way.

Advertisement

She flew out of the gates and travelled smoothly to the lead, quickly burning off her rivals before surging away off the turn to win by eight lengths in 46.90 seconds which was the quickest of 10 heats at 800m and her last 600m was a supersonic 32.32 seconds.

That was the filly we saw win the Gimcrack in the spring and the daughter of Extreme Choice will take a power of beating off that trial if she steps out next in one of the fillies Golden Slipper lead up races.

The other juvenile heat was won by Farnan filly Commanding Belle, who did a great job at her only start to finish third to subsequent Inglis Millennium winner Rivellino at Randwick on January 4. This was her first outing since then and the Robert and Luke Price trained filly looked sharp and strong doing everything right for an easy well held win.

Commanding Belle had a full sister offered at Magic Millions this year by Bell River Thoroughbreds and she made $220,000 when bought by Noble Racing/Robert & Luke Price Racing, which is a tip in itself!

Commanding Belle is the first foal of Amazing Belle, a half-sister by O’Reilly to NZ Horse of the Year and 14 time G1 winner Melody Belle as well as stakes-winner Tutukaka, so she lacks for nothing on pedigree!

Advertisment
More Reading...
Twin Hills Weanling Draft Showcases Daumier and Peltzer
Olly and Amber Tait’s Twin Hills Stud at Cootamundra is home to a couple of young fledgling sires in G1 Blue Diamond winner Daumier and Peltzer, who recently had his first winner and their draft for the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale starting on Monday has a good representation for both young stallions.
Sires With Winners - Sunday May 4
Here is the full list of 51 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Campionessa Retired - How Much for the G1 Winning Mare?
Group One-winning mare Campionessa has been retired from racing and will be offered at Magic Millions’ Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale later this month.
New HK Stakes-Winner Shamus Award
John Size and Zac Purton combined to win the Group III The Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday with up and coming stayer Bundle Award.
I Am Invincible Sprinter wins $1million Archer - Inglis Graduates Trifecta
A weekend that dreams are made of for Neil Jenkinson was today capped off with Easter yearling Lubrication (I Am Invincible) winning the $1m The Archer at Rockhampton.
Magic Millions Off-The-Track Cup Prizemoney Increases to $100,000
Magic Millions co-owner, Katie Page-Harvey and Queensland Off-The-Track Chair, Dr Christine Johnson today confirmed the prizemoney pool for the 2026 QOTT Cup will increase to $100,000.
Windsor Park Delighted with First SW Circus Maximus
Promising youngster Towering Vision crowned a successful couple of days for Windsor Park Stud when he credited resident sire Circus Maximus with his first Southern Hemisphere black-type winner.
Growing Empire Retires to Yulong and Fee Set
One of the most exciting colts of his generation, Growing Empire, will join Yulong Stud’s stallion roster for the 2025 breeding season.
Godolphin Again - Unbeaten Desert Flower Wins Newmarket 1000 Guineas
The stars continue to align for Sheikh Mohammed with the Godolphin blue again in the winner’s circle in the UK overnight with undefeated filly Desert Flower taking out the Group I Newmarket 1000 Guineas (1m).
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
A busy set of trials at Randwick this morning saw Group I winning stallion Schwarz win a heat in good style in preparation for a Queensland trip, while on the juvenile front there were also a couple of carnival aspirants.