One To Watch - Geelong

Mark Smith - Tuesday August 15

After performing above and beyond expectations when third as his career debut as a 40/1 shot at Pakenham back on March 2, the Jason Warren-trained Bel Sonic was sent off the punters choice in an 1100 metre maiden at Geelong on Tuesday and he did the right thing by supporters but it was not without a few heart palpations.

Settled back midfield in the running line by Ben Melham, everything looked to going smoothly.

Then Damien Oliver made a lightning move on the Lindsay Park debutant Etikaal and Melham found himself trapped behind runners that were going nowhere.

Advertisement

He was forced to weave between runners in the straight, miraculously gaining an impeded run to overpower his rivals.


The son of Bel Esprit won quite handily in the end defeating the Helmet filly Pamela Joy by three-quarters of a length with Lonhro gelding Etikaal a half-head back in third.

Consigned by Aquis Farm to the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Bel Sonic was purchased by Jason Warren for $80,000.

Warren knows a thing or two about the breed having trained the millionaire Bel Sprinter whose eight wins included the 2013 Group I Galaxy at Rosehill.

Bel Sonic is the fourth winner from as many foals out of the unraced Elusive Quality mare Ausmaid a half-sister to Listed winner Rebel Call (Exceed And Excel) out of the stakes-placed Encosta de Lago mare Terrenora.

 Ausmaid has a yearling filly by Magnus, which was sold for $26,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, and she was covered by Ready For Victory last spring.

The sire of the peerless Black Caviar, Bel Esprit stands at Sun Stud (QLD) in 2017 at a fee of $12,100.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Flashy Grey Kingman Colt Wins Irish 2,000 Guineas
Juddmonte Farms have been firing through spring of the euro flat season and they produced the quinella overnight at The Curragh with Kingman colts finishing one and two in the Group I Irish 2,000 Guineas (1m) and leading the way was Field of Gold, who was purchased as a weanling  for €530,000.
Brisbane Possible for Resurgent Velocious
Group One winner Velocious bounced back to her brilliant best in the Jarvis Trading (1100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, raising the possibility of a trans-Tasman mission.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 24
Here is the full list of 102 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Antino King of Doomben with Track Record Breaking Victory
Trainer Tony Gollan has earmarked the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) as the long-range target for star galloper Antino after a stunning victory in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday in track record time.
Philia Highlights Oaks Claims With Tenacious The Roses Win
Successful last time out in the Listed Princess Stakes when becoming the 30th stakes winner for her sire All Too Hard, the David Vandyke trained Philia went four from four this time in, leading through to win the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.
NZ Oaks Winner Strikes Form in Australia for Yulong
Last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous landed her first blow across the Tasman with a gritty victory in the Gr.3 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Mile (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Mixed Fortunes for Aussie Connected Sprinters
There were two important sprint races run overnight in the UK and Ireland and both had key runners with strong Australian interest in Zoustar mare Mgheera and the former Waterhouse  Bott trained colt Storm Boy.
G1 Stradbroke Next for War Machine
Hot favourite War Machine made light work of his rivals in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday and it is now all systems go as the four-year-old son of Harry Angel (IRE) heads towards the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.  
Almanzor Keeps Winners Coming for Moody- Coleman
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Roadcone led his rivals a merry dance when winning the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Saturday, bringing up a treble for the stable and jockey Luke Cartwright.
One To Watch - Belmont
The Belmont meeting in Perth was abandoned on Saturday after just five races, but that was enough time for punters to get a look at a two year-old by Too Darn Hot (GB) that is the last foal of a sensational WA blue hen who sadly passed away last year.