18 Sep 2021Bellacontte earned her passage south when she produced a dashing rails run to claim top honours in the G3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings this afternoon.
It was the Burgundy filly’s second black-type victory on the bounce, having won the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes at her previous appearance.
Trainer Chrissy Bambry confirmed that Bellacontte would be heading south for a crack at the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
“She is just the coolest filly to do anything with and to beat a field that that was pretty special. Her coat is still coming through as well, she just loves being a racehorse,” she said.
Bellacontte settled off the pace for regular rider Sarah Macnab and, when the field fanned out across the track, they rounded off strongly along the fence.
Bred by Dr Kelvin Chong, the filly was born on the farm and was sold to owner Ben Kwok as a foal at foot via the Gavelhouse platform.
Bellacontte is out of the Tavistock mare Devon Doll and she is from a well-performed family that includes our own multiple Group 1 winner Probabeel.