Group Two Winner for Reliable Man

Media Release - Sunday December 16

With a classy come-from-behind performance in Saturday's $100,000 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa, Karaka graduate Belle du Nord (NZ) (Reliable Man) claimed a valuable Group 2 win to sit alongside her multiple big-race placings.

Reliable ManA $50,000 yearling purchase at Karaka in 2016, Belle du Nord won on debut as a two-year-old and has subsequently placed in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m), the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) and the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) in Adelaide.

But Saturday was Belle du Nord's day in the sun. After dropping out to the rear of the classy eight-horse field in the Te Rapa fillies and mares' feature, jockey Vinnie Colgan angled the four-year-old to the outside to make her run.

Contenders lined up across the track in an exciting finish, but Belle du Nord's potent finishing burst carried her to a half-length victory over the defending championLizzie L'Amour(NZ) (Zabeel).

Raced by the Northern Club Racing Syndicate No. 12 (managed by Sir David Williams KNZM, QC), Belle du Nord has now earned $194,224 in prizemoney – more than 3.8 times her purchase price.

Advertisement

"I'm rapt for the owners," said Emma-Lee Browne, who trains in partnership with her husband David. "We had to wait a little while to get her second win, but she's kept stepping up in big races and she's performed in Australia. This is a great result and she's a really valuable broodmare now."

Belle du Nord's dam Bankside Belle has had two foals to race, both of them black-type performers. Fellow Karaka graduateWhat Choux Want(NZ) (Jimmy Choux) won twice and placed in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes and Listed Welcome Stakes.

Curraghmore will offer a Jimmy Choux half-brother to Belle du Nord at Karaka 2019, going through the ring as Lot 1019 in Book 2.

Vendor Bradbury Park
Purchaser Michael Otto Bloodstock (Auckland)
Breeding Reliable Man – Bankside Belle
Sale Lot 302, 2016 Nation Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, $50,000
Bred by Nearco Stud Limited
Advertisment
More Reading...
Stakes Goals Ahead for Supido Mare
Astute trainer David Payne is no stranger to G1 success and has always held Supido mare Shohisha in high regard and she showed the potential of better things to come this spring when powering home to win the Benchmark 94 event over 1600m at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 6
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Reliable Man Best Still to Come
The impressive Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) victory of three-year-old filly Miami Bound, who became the second Group One winner for sire Reliable Man, has been the highlight of a stunning ten-day period for the Westbury Stud-based stallion.
Pericles Turns Back the Clock
Six year-old Street Boss (USA) gelding Pericles won the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) two years ago in 2023 when trained by James Cummings and he repeated the effort at Randwick on Saturday, but this time he is in the care of Bjorn Baker.
G1 Haydock Sprint Cup Upset
Wathnan Racing were expecting to win the Group I Haydock Sprint Cup (6f) overnight with short priced race favourite Lazzat, but the best he could manage was fifth behind progressive three year-old colt Big Mojo.
Pedigree Watch – 3YO Plus That G1 Late Bloomer
Saturday delivered another exciting instalment of early spring racing with three stakes races for 3YO’s and once again all of them were won by new first time stakes-winners that were virtually unsighted at two and we also had a new G1 winner, whose path to the top has been anything but smooth.
Westbury Stud Celebrate a Second Oaks Winner for Reliable Man
Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man has had an incredible run this past week, led by his all-conquering daughter Miami Bound who won the Group II Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday, before her dominant victory in the Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) at the Melbourne track on Thursday.
Barnstorming Performance As Baraqiel Wins G1 Moir Stakes
Off the back of his impressive last start Listed Norman Carlyon Stakes victory at the same track, Snitzel gelding Baraqiel had everyone talking, and rightfully so, as he justified the faith of his trainers, charging late to win the $750,000 Group 1 MVRC Moir Stakes (1000m) in the Bennett Racing silks.
Ka Ying Rising Straight to Everest Quarantine after Return Romp
Hong Kong Champion Ka Ying Rising was headed straight to quarantine to prepare for the Group I The Everest after another stunning performance when resuming for the new season on Sunday at Sha Tin.
Lightning Strikes at The Valley
It didn't carry Black Type, but the $200,000 MVRC So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley was packed with intrigue and G1 winners with spring aspirations.