Well-bred 2YO out to add to family honours board
Promising filly Belle Rebelle (NZ) (Ribchester) hails from a potent stakes family and will attempt to add further black type honours to her pedigree page at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The daughter of Ribchester finished runner-up last time out in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) and will attempt to go one better for multiple Group One-winning trainer Donna Logan in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m).
She is raced under the Emerald Bloodstock banner of Hawke’s Bay breeders Mike and Diana Creed, a granddaughter of Annie Sarten with the filly a member of her outstanding Belle family.
Belle Rebelle is the first foal of the Haunui Farm-based mare Belle Moi (NZ) and was a debut winner at Pukekohe before her second placing at Ellerslie.
“She’s a tough girl from the Belle family and I got her through Mark Chitty, which was very, very good of him,” Logan said.
“They are incredibly good owners and such wonderful people.
“She’s been very straight forward, and her and another two-year-old Arcadia (NZ) (Contributer) have worked together all the way through and I couldn’t separate them, Arcadia was a late scratching the day Belle Rebelle won.”
The Windsor Park Stud-bred Contributer filly Arcadia has been a trial winner but has yet to step out race day while Belle Rebelle remained in work to target the Star Way.
“She’s done well since and after Te Rapa she may go to the Champagne Stakes (Listed) a fortnight later over a mile because she’s going to stay all day,” Logan said.
“I wouldn’t run her on a heavy track though, even though she has run second on a rain-affected track I don’t think her action was as sweet as it is on better ground.
“The weather looks as though it will be in our favour on Saturday and Masa (Hashizume) has been engaged.
“She hasn’t been left-handed yet and I don’t think that will worry her, she’s a pretty sensible filly and takes everything in her stride.”
Belle Rebelle is one of only two juveniles the stable has raced this season with the other Parfait Dimanche (Anders) placed at Group Three level in the Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m).
The former’s arrival in the stable also reignited a long-standing family association.
“Mike rang me and we were chatting about the filly’s progress, and I said you’re not related to Dixie Creed, I used to train for him years ago at Ruakaka, and he said that’s my father,” Logan said.
“I had a horse called Bold Trader (NZ) (Slavic) for him, he was no champion but a grand little horse and all these years have gone by and I’m now training for the son and I’m thrilled it’s continuing.”
Bold Trader was a versatile performer who won on the flat and over jumps and finished third in the 2007 Grand National Hurdles (4200m).
“He was only about 15.2h and I remember saying to (former training partner) Chris Gibbs what are we going to do with this horse, I think he’s reached his mark,” Logan said.
“Chris said I reckon we should jump him and I said he couldn’t see over one, he’s too small, but he turned out to be great jumper.
“When he retired, he ended up going to England and eventing and did exceptionally well over there.”
Logan returned home in 2024 to establish her new training base at Byerley Park following a successful seven-year stint in Singapore.
“I’ve got a good client base around me now, it’s been quite a remarkable journey starting off again with a lot of hard graft and I’ve had a lot of support from Westbury Stud as well,” Logan said.
