Kiwi-bred dual Group One winner Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto) is set to get her first taste of Australian racing when she heads to Rosehill on Saturday to tackle the Gr.2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) for new trainer Bjorn Baker.
The now seven-year-old mare had a stellar racing career in New Zealand, winning 11 races for Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta, including the last two editions of the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
Owner-breeder David Woodhouse offered Belclare at Magic Millions’ National Broodmare Sale in May where she failed to meet her A$700,000 reserve, and she subsequently joined Baker’s Warwick Farm barn.
“I have always had faith in her and all her Group races, apart from the Tauherenikau race (2022 Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, 1600m), she has won pretty comfortably,” Woodhouse said.
“I thought it was a no-brainer that if she didn’t sell I would carry on racing her. I raced her before in partnership with all those fellas and now I am racing her on my own. The training expenses are fairly tremendous, but it is exciting.”
She has made an immediate impression on Baker, winning her two trials over 850m and 900m at Randwick last month, and Woodhouse is excited to cross the Tasman to watch his pride and joy make her Australian debut.
“He (Baker) just keeps raving about her and Rachel (King, jockey), who rides her in all her track work and trials, seems to be happy,” Woodhouse said.
“He (Baker) did hand out a warning that it will be a small and select field. We don’t know whether the 1200m is going to be too short for her fresh-up, but she has been trialling exceptionally well.”
Belclare’s spring plans will hinge on her performance this weekend, but Woodhouse said they don’t plan to overtax the mare.
“If she comes up like she looks she has come up then we will race her sparingly through the season,” he said.
Woodhouse hasn’t ruled out Belclare returning to race in New Zealand this season, harbouring an ambition to record a third successive victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
“I dream about bringing her home and having another crack at the Breeders,” he said. “That is what I keep telling Lisa (Latta) to keep her happy, but there are some good races in Sydney at that time of the year as well.”
While Woodhouse will be trackside in Sydney on Saturday, he will be keeping a close eye on Riccarton where his black and white colours will be carried by Connello in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m).
The three-year-old daughter of Time Test won one of her seven starts as a juvenile and has returned in good form this season, finishing runner-up in her 1000m trial at Foxton last month.
“She ran a pretty good trial two weeks ago and we were happy enough with that to be able to send her south,” Woodhouse said.
“My cousin has got a half share, he is down in Canterbury, so he is in charge on Saturday.”
