Pierro Two State Stakes Double
Golden Slipper winning sire Pierro had a great day on Saturday with a two state stakes double featuring Bellevue Hill (2c Pierro x Bellevue Girl, by Exceed and Excel) in Sydney and Regal Power (3g Pierro x Broadway Belle, by Redoute’s Choice) in Perth, the latter with a half-brother by Vancouver headed to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Missing the Golden Slipper may prove a blessing in disguise for progressive colt Bellevue Hill, who made light of the heavy conditions at Rosehill to kick away and win the Group III ATC The Schweppervescence as he pleased.
Only an emergency for the Slipper, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained colt came into this 1400 metre assignment off a close second to Rubick colt Yes Yes Yes in the Group II ATC Todman Stakes and appreciated the step up in distance to lead all the way and win by a dominant two lengths.
Adrian Bott confirmed Bellevue Hill would back up in the Group I ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) on the opening day of The Championships at Randwick next Saturday provided he came through this race without a hiccup.
"That was the plan coming into today. We wanted to see a strong performance like that just to top him off for the Sires' Produce," Bott said.
"He's a fit horse and now we've seen today he's versatile in all conditions so that might come in handy come next Saturday.
"We thought if he'd got a run in the Golden Slipper he would have given it a real shake because he's the right colt, he's going to be top class for us going forward."
A $400,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Aquis Farm draft for G Waterhouse / Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA) / Rifa Mustang / Raffles Racing, Bellevue Hill runs for a big syndicate including Aquis, in whose familiar aqua colours he runs.
Bred by Aquis Farm, Bellevue Hill has now won two of three starts earning nearly $160,000 and is the second winner from Exceed and Excel mare Bellevue Girl, a full sister to Group III winning 2YO Sugar Babe from multiple Group II winner On Type.
Bellevue Girl has a weanling filly to follow by Pierro.
Bellevue Hill is the 16th stakes-winner for Pierro, who covered an impressive 228 mares at Coolmore last spring at a fee of $88,000.
A homebred for Bob and Sandra Peters prepared by Grant and Alana Williams, three year-old gelding Regal Power has always promised to enjoy a staying trip and powered clear to win the Listed WATC Melvista Stakes over 2200 metres at Ascot by two and a quarter lengths.
It was his second Black Type win and took his overall record to three wins and five placings from 12 starts with prizemoney over $216,000.
Regal Power is the third winner from stakes-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Broadway Belle and is a full brother to Group II WATC Derby winner Action.
He is also a brother-in-blood to the Peters homebreds Arcadia Queen, winner of the Group I WATC Kingston Town Classic and Arcadia Prince, winner of the Group III WATC Scahill Stakes.
Broadway Belle has been a regular visitor to Coolmore and has a yearling colt by Vancouver, a weanling filly by American Pharoah (USA) and is now back in foal to Pierro, who covered 228 mares last spring at a fee of $88,000.
The yearling Vancouver colt has been entered for Inglis Easter and will be consigned by Holbrook Thoroughbreds as Lot 388.