Vinery test for Belle Cheval
Mark Walker has watched in awe at what boom filly Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) has been able to achieve in New Zealand this year, but he is not conceding this Saturday's Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill with Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) to her just yet.
The daughter of Savabeel rises from the 1500m of The Kiwi, in which she was narrowly beaten by Well Written (Written Tycoon), for her first test at 2000m and while Walker concedes Ohope Wins is the testing material, he is happy to be taking her on dropping back in trip from her Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) win.
"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, who was transferred to Chris Waller following her Oaks win when in the care of Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott and Andrew Scott, are among 15 entries for the Vinery Stud Stakes.
It is one of two Group Ones at Rosehill Saturday, accompanied by the $1.5m Tancred Stakes (2400m), which counts Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai), Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio), Sir Delius (Frankel) and Vauban (Galiway) among 16 entries.
The Vinery Stud Stakes will be just the seventh start for Belle Cheval, who finished third in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last spring and won Group Three races at 1200m and 1400m before going down in a head-bobbing finish in The Kiwi.
The Vinery Stud Stakes will be Belle Cheval's final start of the campaign, but it will not be the last Australian racing fans see of her this 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 identified the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) as possible early targets for Belle Cheval in spring.
Golden Slipper-winning rider Zac Lloyd has been booked for the ride on Belle Cheval, while James McDonald will ride rival Ohope Wins.
Meanwhile, Walker has confirmed that star juvenile Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) will not be seen again this season after spiking a temperature. The unbeaten filly was to have contested Saturday’s Gr.3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Flemington, but will instead head to the paddock.
