Mark Walker has been impressed by the accomplishments of star filly Ohope Wins in New Zealand this season, yet he isn’t ready to hand over this Saturday’s $750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes to her without a fight.
The trainer from Te Akau Racing plans to run Belle Cheval over 2000 metres in the Group 1 event at Rosehill.
This Savabeel filly steps up from the 1500m of The Kiwi, where she was just edged out by Well Written, marking her initial attempt at the 2000m distance, and although Walker acknowledges Ohope Wins as a formidable rival, he’s content to challenge her after shortening the trip from her New Zealand Oaks triumph.
“We know that horse really well from New Zealand and they are coming back from 2400 to 2000, I’d rather be probably going 1500 to 2000,” Walker said.
“But she has got very good New Zealand form, that’s for sure.
“You don’t know until you go to Australia how the New Zealand form is going to measure up, but Belle Cheval’s run in The NZB Kiwi was really good.
“She is at 2000 metres first time, but she’s by Savabeel and most of them get that sort of distance.
“You don’t know until you try but at least as a three-year-old she should be able to manage it.”
Belle Cheval and Ohope Wins, the latter now under Chris Waller’s guidance after her Oaks success while with Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott, are part of 15 entries in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
The race shares the card with two Group 1 features at Rosehill on Saturday, including the $1.5m Tancred Stakes (2400m), featuring entries such as Dubai Honour, Aeliana, Sir Delius, Vauban and the imported Group 1 victor Barnavara among its 16 acceptors.
It will mark only the seventh race start for Belle Cheval, who placed third in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last spring, claimed Group 3 wins over 1200m and 1400m, and suffered a heartbreaking defeat in a photo finish in The Kiwi.
The Vinery Stud Stakes represents Belle Cheval’s last outing this preparation, though Australian punters will see more of her later in the year.
“She just has the one run then goes down to our Melbourne stable for three or four days and then we’ll send out her out for a spell,” Walker, who has an Australian base at Cranbourne, said.
“She’ll spell down on the Mornington Peninsula and then we’ll have back for spring racing in Melbourne.”
Walker has pinpointed the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and Toorak Handicap (1600m) as potential early spring Group 1 options for the filly in Melbourne.
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