Juvenile gelding Belzoni has shown plenty of promise at home for trainer Lisa Latta and he was able to transfer that to raceday when scoring his maiden success in the Wilson Livestock (1100m) at Waverley on Easter Monday.
The son of Belardo was pulled up shortly after the start when on debut at Trentham last October and was spelled over summer. He pleased Latta with his two runner-up trials heading into his resuming run, and Latta was full of confidence when the forecast rain arrived on Monday.
Belzoni jumped away well and settled in the coveted one out, one back position for jockey Jonathan Riddell where he enjoyed an economical passage throughout. He was presented three-wide at the turn and showed a blistering turn of foot in the final 200m on the Heavy8 going to score a 1-1/4 length victory over Spandeedo, with a further neck back to Engine Of War in third.
Latta was pleased with the winning result and believes there is plenty more instore for the promising gelding.
“At Trentham he got pulled up, we think he just locked his stifle,” she said. “We turned him out for a decent break and he has had two very nice trials coming back through. With the showers today it was always going to suit him.
“He is a typical Belardo, he is going to be better with a bit of time, both physically and mentally.”
Bred by Don and Dame Wendy Pye, Belzoni was offered through Haunui Farm’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Latta for $45,000.
He is out of winning St Petersburg mare Sinalot, and is the full-brother to six-win mare Caitlyns Wish and half-brother to Group Three winner Carnival. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
