Smart Four Year Old Double For Walk In The Park

Bellatior (4f Walk In The Park - Monte Solaro, by Key Of Luck) lived up to expectations on Saturday, as the half-sister to Altior made a winning debut in the mares’ bumper at Naas.

Sent off favourite under Jamie Codd, the €300,000 store purchase chased the leader for much of the way and was asked to challenge approaching the two furlong marker. She drew clear with longtime leader Kilbarry Chloe (Mahler), with the pair rallying to the line, where Bellatior prevailed by three parts of a length. The pair finished 14 lengths clear of the field.

“She’s very nice,” winning trainer Gordon Elliott later commented. “She’s going to be good. We’ll take our time with her and probably leave her now until the spring.”

Owned by KTDA Racing and bred by Paddy Behan Junior, Bellatior hails from the first crop of Walk In The Park four-year-olds conceived at Grange Stud.

Walk In The Park enjoyed a successful start to the weekend when Monbeg Park (4g Walk In The Park - Cyclone’s Sister, by Stowaway) also made a winning debut in the four-year-old gelding maiden at Tattersalls.

Delivered at the final fence by Rob James, Donnchadh Doyle’s charge ran on well to score by three lengths. The €65,000 store buy was bred by Grange Stud out of a full-sister to Hidden Cyclone.