Bellazaine (AUS)
Bellazaine (AUS)
2 f Zousain – Benella, By Not A Single Doubt
O: Ms P A Bourke, Miss R Wakefield, Mr F Giuffre, Ms V M Anderson, Ms S Beatson, Mrs K P Egerton, Mrs S A Hardie, Mrs K S Fysh, Mrs R R Grasso, Mrs E E Gibbons, LG Racing, Ms T Malmborg, Ms M L Sheedy, Miss A L De Vries, Mrs M I De Vries, Mrs C A Devine, SJC Thoroughbreds
B: Supido Pty Ltd, NSW
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
S: 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale V: Widden Stud P: Gai Waterhouse / Adrian Bott / Kestrel T/breds, $160,000
W: Darley Lonhro Plate, Listed, 1000m, February 8, Royal Randwick
After missing out on a start in the Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m), two-year-old filly Bellazaine (2 f Zousain – Benella) more than made up for the disappointment when she secured a tough win in the Lonhro Plate (Listed, 1000m) on Saturday.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the filly raced in true Tulloch Lodge-style under Regan Bayliss, showing early speed to settle outside the leader. When challenged by eventual runner-up Beiwacht (Bivouac) in the straight, Bellazaine extended with tenacity to secure a 0.6-length win ahead of the Godolphin-owned colt, with Michael Freedman’s Extractor (Spirit Of Boom) a further 1.4-lengths away in third.
“I think that’s certainly some consolation for the owners there, some important black type and residual value for her, and importantly some prize-money to count towards the Golden Slipper,” said Bott.
“She was first emergency in the big race with the women’s only bonus her owners were chasing, but I’m sure they’ll still be very satisfied with a big win today.”
Bayliss believes Bellazaine still has plenty of natural improvement to come.
“She came through the Gimcrack in the spring, and that form has really stood up,” he said.
“She is a big, long, rangy and scopey filly that’s only going to get better once she gets over a little bit further. The Godolphin colt [Beiwacht] had a run under his belt and he really challenged her, but she was tough right through the line.
“She is still a little bit gawky and was having a look around at things. Tim [Clark] has done most of the work on her, I grew in confidence after hearing what he had to say about her and she didn’t disappoint today.”
Off the back of the impressive win, Bellazaine will now be set on a path towards the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m).
“She’s certainly up to it,” said Bott.
“She’s a lovely big, strong filly, and she’s had the advantage of having a preparation. Things didn’t necessarily go to plan for her in the Gimcrack, she was always one of our leading fillies going into that race, and just the wide draw affected her on the day. But no excuses today, she has come back a stronger and more seasoned filly so she can certainly put her hand up.
“She’ll go to one of those fillies’ lead-up races, potentially a race like the Sweet Embrace, and see if we can get her fully qualified for the Slipper.”
Bellazaine was a $160,000 purchase at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for Waterhouse and Bott in partnership with Bruce Slade of Kestrel Thoroughbreds. She was consigned by Widden Stud, who also stand her sire Zousain (Zoustar), with the win providing him a third individual stakes winner.
She is the fourth foal and fourth winner out of Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) mare Benella, who was purchased by Widden for $12,500 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, and is herself is a three-quarter sister to their resident sire Doubtland (Not A Single Doubt), and Villa Verde (Not A Single Doubt), the dam of stakes winner and Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (Gr 2, 1100m) runner-up My Gladiola (I Am Invincible).
Bellazaine’s Supido (Sebring) half-sister sold as Lot 63 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale earlier this week, knocking down to Billy Healey Racing, Furlong Bloodstock and Onfire Racing for $55,000.
Benella also has a Supido filly at foot, and was served by Zousain again in 2024.