StableTalk

The former NZ Oaks winner returns on Friday night at Alex.Park following 2 workouts where she performed well, without winning.

Fingers are crossed that there will be no recurrence of the injuries which have restricted her career to date. Junior driver, Sean Grayling , takes the reins for the first time with her in a race.

Excited to see Belle back to the racetrack friday night.Yeah former NZ Oaks winner as well as North Island Filly of the year and NZ 1700m record holder ,so unlucky injuries have interrupted such a promising racing career.
Fingers crossed alright for no more injuries and a successful return to racing,has been a long and anxious past year or so waiting for this moment.Go Belle !

A nice run by Belle for last.I thought when I said something like that just the other week about Major Stars last placing that that would be a one off but apparently not,just hope I don't have to say such again though.
What the starter was thinking letting the field go while Belle was still to swing into line I don't know ,word out that driver called out to starter he wasn't yet in line but that fell on deaf ears unfortunately.Could safely say that was one of the most Not in any hurry starts by a horse of ours that I have seen despite Star being rather good at it, 30m loss the stewards said.What bad luck that was,course this big occasion after such a long spell may have had some influence on her .
Gotta be happy with the run though,maybe that decision by Sean G to not grab the 1/1 posse on the back of No Doctor Needed when the opportunity presented itself was not helpful but wow they sure ran a fast last 800 ,53.7sec and a record.So for Belle to finish of the race so strongly and not far away was pretty good
.Best was though to hear she apparently came through this run well,so hope that is right.

Belle leading out then giving up to Hughie Green according to my plan but guess should not have been surprising to then see No Dr Needed then make a play for the lead,Not the move I wanted to see by McKendry letting him take the lead but the wisest one for him off course.
Pretty pleased to see Belle still running strongly at the finish albeit not able to take the opportunity that presented itself along the inside of the winner in the straight though didn't look like allot of room there.
Would like to know what Zac or Barry had to say after the race,if her hard first up race had any bearing on her performance or if the track conditions that were listed as slushy but looked good on the video had any influence.Fast last 800 again so track must have been ok.
Hopefully Belle good after this race and improvement in her ,just wish her competition was not quite so tough.

3rd in workout today, hopefully will be good to go next weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE3Cj-x7los

Looking for a turnaround in form on 31st December in a stand start event

Barry Purdon gives way to Brent Mangos to see if a change of driver can reactivate the old ability.

NZ record 2700m for a mare from a stand set 2011,Lancome,3-20.9. Belle equalled that so can't be in too bad a shape.With the All Star's domination of all the better stake races with horses capable of slashing records life is hard for the rest,beating them a dream that seldom can come true.Drive by Mangos hard to fault,interested to know what he had to say after race.Whether Belle capable of better times now or what don't know but with her training being so good wonder what is going on with her.If only she could have a stint in Auss,seem so many suitable races over there for Major Star so likely same for Belle,why does a trip to Auss only have to be for a big group race.

Yes Geejay, she runs the times but others continue to run faster.

I think she might have said "goodbye" to the racetrack. Next action is awaited.

Food for thought before retiring Belle,think we tend to be disappointed rather easily and forget what she has been going through after her injury and long break.
Just a quick summary of a much larger summary I hurriedly made of Belle‘s performances since returning from injury.Have listed mainly times here but could list more excuses as usually able to find something that could explain what we think has been disappointing.Over racing has been a problem and I may have not listed all cases as doing this in a rush.
3 sept -Workout 3:19.0 (MR 2:08.0), with good closing sectionals of 57.1 and 28.6.
10 sept-Workout 3:01 for the last 2400m, so they were running along
16 Sept-2700m race- race that saw the fastest officially recorded last half in a race at Alexandra Park of 53.7.running her own last half in an amazing 53.4 seconds.
30 sept-2200m race- 2.9 lengths from the winner.Belle’s closing sectionals were completed in impressive times of 55.2 and 26.8.The winner was Hughie Green, in a time of 2:46.6 (MR 2:01.Cool, with the closing sectionals completed in 55.3 and 26.9
14 Oct-2200m race- 2nd placing, going down by 1¼ lengths.Ardens Choice,The Faithful,No Dr Needed and Hughie Green behind her .Winners time 3:22.6 (MR 2:00.7), with the last 800m in 58.7 and the 400m in 28.7.
29th Oct-Workout- just let her run home herself. She finished on the bit with a 55 half
04 Nov -1700 race- winner was Rocker Band, in a good time of 2:01.4 (MR 1:54.9), with fast closing sectionals of 55.5 and 27.7. Nose and only another ¾ length from the winner. She got a bit keen down the back
11 Nov-2700m race- Breaks start,loses 50m then breaks in straight- winner Arden’s Choice, in a time of 3:24.0 (MR 2:01.5), with the last 800m in a very quick 55.2 and the 400m in 28.1. Her hearts thumping and she’s having a bit of a blow.
18 Nov - 1700m race- Winner Hughie Green, in a fast time of 2:00.3 (MR 1:53.9), with the closing sectionals completed in 56.3 and 28.2 Belle 3-back on the markers and got very keen in the running. As they sped down the back in 28.1, Belle was actually last of the main bunch passing the 400m pole ,7.6 lengths from the winner and last
Monday (21st November), “She was very bright this morning , her blood was very good last week , her work has been good too. She was dragging me all the way to the paddock today
3rd Dec- Workout- winner Rocker Band, in a good time of 2:34.0 (MR 2:00.Cool, last 800m in 57.5 and 400m in a quick 26.8. Jacob said, “She was good. The plug cord got caught around her legs, so I just had to sit there, but she wanted to keep going. I was happy with her.”
09 Dec -2200m race- Winner Dream About Me, in a time of 2:40.2 (MR 1:57.2) with the closing sectionals completed in 57.4 and 27.2. Belle‘s actual time of 2:41.6 was very respectable coming home in 58.5 and 28.3. ,though 8 lengths from winner.
16 Dec – 2200m race- Dream About Me, in a time of 2:43.4 (MR 1:59.5), with the closing sectionals completed in very fast times of 55.0 and 26.9 . Belle ran along tucked away 3-back on the markers throughout, but did get a little keen with what was slow pace being set up front, as they ran through the first quarter of the last mile in 32.9 seconds and then the next quarter in 32.1 . 8th and last placing, belying the fact that she had actually run quick closing sectional times herself of 55.5 and 27.4. The Stewards Report stated, “IDEAL BELLE - over-raced in the middle stages and then weakened during the run home
31 Dec-2700m race-8th,winner Vincent in nz record time,cut 1.5 sec of record. Belle good beginning to 3rd,round to lead soon though fast tempo,lead time a cracking 1.23,6 for stand start says commentator soon after she took over.Then as they came into straight to get the bell he said “ Walkinshaw getting more detached as is Alta Las Vegas,to show you what sort of speed is on“ . Belle run down in straight.Perhaps not the perfect drive by Mangos after all..Times:Mile Rate: 1-58.9 Last 800m: 55.7 Last 400m: 27.1
Her time 3-20.9 ,is equal to the mares NZ record from a stand set by Lancome in 2011 1.23,6
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Is she there mentally. Her work tremendous lately. ????? Is she not capable of winning again ????

3 last placings in a row does seem rather sad and understandable not to want to see her record tarnished any further.
As my summary shows she has not had an easy introduction back to racing though races have been well spaced for her .
Don't want to push her too far and perhaps end up with more big vet bills,the problem with selling her right now is it's quite likely the buyer will want to race her at least until the next breeding season so question is is it better for her to continue racing under our ownership a little bit longer with the possibility of trying a change of environment and picking her races so things are not too demanding on her.