Belle romps home at Riccarton

Savabeel

Belle Of The Ball continued her sparkling run of southern form at Riccarton where she completed a hat-trick of wins on Saturday afternoon ahead of a likely return to black-type competition.

The Mark Walker-trained four-year-old, who finished runner-up in last season’s Listed Warstep S., had been untested in her previous two outings on the synthetic track and she again proved far too good on the turf for her Rating 75 rivals over 1600 metres.

The Waikato Stud graduate holds a nomination for next month’s G2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile over the same course and distance and is currently a $26 chance in the futures market for the November 9 feature.

“She’s a very progressive mare, but obviously didn’t beat that much in the previous two races she won,” Walker said.

“She’s going the right way and she’s capable of winning a really decent race.”

Belle Of The Ball was given a cosy run behind the pace by rider Joe Kamaruddin before he eased her into the clear at the top of the straight and they surged clear.

The daughter of Savabeel was purchased out of the Matamata farm’s 2020 draft at Karaka by Te
Akau’s David Ellis for $300,000.

She is the first live foal of the Duke Of Marmalade mare Lady Tatia who was successful twice and was placed in the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic and is out of a sister to multiple Group 1 winner Shogun Lodge.

Lady Tatia delivered a sister last year to Belle Of The Ball before a return visit to Savabeel.

https://twitter.com/WaikatoStud/status/1576069690111463424

Recent News
1 October 2025

Sulek and Savvysuper give Seth a Trans-Tasman double

Super Seth’s momentum continues, siring a midweek double across New Zealand and Australia. Savvysuper broke through at Tauranga, while $420,000 Ready to Run Sale graduate Sulek showcased his turn of foot at Sandown, confirming the stallion’s growing influence.

Read More
1 October 2025

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It’s always difficult to reinvent the wheel. Last week’s Corner, I took the easy way and republished the Racing NSW publication of their view of the ATC. Around the edges, there will be differences, but on a smaller scale, we have parallel issues.

Read More