Belclare off to the Gold Coast

[Wandering Eyes]

Belclare winning the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie last Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Last start Group 1 winner Belclare looks to have run her last race, with the Lisa Latta-trained mare entered for next month’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Broodmare sale.

The daughter of Per Incanto was bred by David Woodhouse, who races the mare in partnership with John Clark and the Rusties Syndicate, for whom she has won 11 of her 36 starts and nearly $1 million in prizemoney.

Belclare had a fitting send-off at Ellerslie last Saturday when defending her crown in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), adding to her previous stakes victories in the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m), Group 3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), and Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).

“I was absolutely rapt with the win on Saturday, we had set her for that a long way out,” Latta said.

“We scratched her from Wellington when the track was wet and backed ourselves going in there with five weeks between runs.

“She has gone to the paddock and is entered in the Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast on the 31st of May. It is sad to lose her, but you have got to see it from the owners’ perspective, and she is a valuable mare.”

Latta is now hoping to continue her stables’ good run of form at Trentham on Saturday where she will have several stakes chances, including Diss Is Dramatic in the Group 3 Martin Collins New Zealand Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m).

The four-year-old mare was a last start victor of the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga 10 days ago and Latta is looking forward to stepping her up over ground.

“She has come through it really well and I am really looking forward to getting her up to the 2000m,” Latta said.

“She looks like she is ready for it after that win and she has trained on nicely.”

Latta’s Group 1 winner He’s A Doozy returned to winning form last start at Trentham and will return to the Upper Hutt venue to try and replicate that result in the Group 2 City Of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m).

“It was a big relief (to get that win),” Latta said.

“He has just had a few niggly problems but we think we are pretty much on top of them. He had a really quiet trial at Foxton yesterday and I am really happy with him.”

Latta’s final stakes representative at the meeting will be last start winner Platinumgeneration in the Group 3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2100m).

“I have got a fair bit of time for Platinumgeneration,” Latta said.

“It is a big jump from a maiden race to where we have got him on Saturday, but I am looking forward to getting him up over ground and he certainly is a very nice, promising horse.”

Latta is also excited about the prospects of Platinum Attack, who will be shooting for his fourth consecutive win in The Oaks Stud Premier (1200m).

“He is a promising horse,” Latta said.

“It is a stronger field again on Saturday, but I am looking forward to seeing where he sits after this.”

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