Bendigo back-up for McEvoy’s Belle
Belle Plaisir will chase Listed victory at Bendigo this Saturday, but the Golden Mile could serve a greater purpose for the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained mare.
The signature race on Bendigo’s metropolitan program will put the polish on a campaign aimed at the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) in Adelaide on April 27.
The seven-year-old backs up after a second placing at Caulfield last Saturday, her third minor placing from as many runs this campaign, and Tony Mcevoy said the $200,000 1600-metre event at Bendigo should have her in perfect shape for her Adelaide goal.
“I just felt she needs another run, so we’ll back her up this week and then two weeks into that,” he said.
“She’s come back a bigger mare. She’s normally quite a narrow mare and doesn’t carry a lot of flesh, but she’s looking like a colt this time, so I thought another run might help her.”
Belle Plaisir has run in the Queen Of The South the past two years, finishing fourth in 2022 and eighth last year.
The 2023 result followed a fifth placing in the Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m), one of the support races on Bendigo’s Golden Mile program.
Belle Plaisir will start from barrier 13 in the 16-horse Golden Mile, in which she shares the $7.50 third line in betting with Euphoric.
Favourite, at $5.50, is emergency Golden Path, who has secured a run following the scratching of Jimi Hendrix, just ahead of Foxy Frida ($6), winner of the past two Gold Bracelets.
Belle Plaisir is not the McEvoys’ only Golden Mile runners, to be accompanied by Frankie Pinot.
The son of Your Song, a $16 chance, has not placed in three runs this campaign, or won since the 2022 Wangoom Handicap 18 runs ago, but McEvoy said the seven-year-old’s form was better than it appeared on paper.
“Frankie was great the other day, ran really well,” he said of the gelding’s last-start fourth placing at Flemington.
“I thought she (jockey, Madison Lloyd) pressed the button a bit early and he emptied a bit late but was only beaten a length.
“It’s been a long time since he’s won a race, but he’s been running really well.”
Frankie Pinot has drawn barrier two and will be ridden by Luke Currie, while Blaike Mcdougall has the job aboard Belle Plaisir.
More Racing News
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...
Waller's entrants set for All-Star Mile at Flemington
Leading handler Chris Waller embraces the All-Star Mile format since its promotion to Group 1.Launched back in 2019, the All-Star Mile moved between key Melbourne venues and mirrored Japan's Arima Kinen by letting the public choose their top pick.Changes were implemented in later years, and Waller entered sparingly.Securing Group 1...
Mark Zahra backs Tentyris to overcome weight in Newmarket
Mark Zahra, the jockey, doesn't see the allocated weight for Tentyris as a barrier to the colt capturing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.To win the Group 1 1200m event at Flemington on Saturday, Tentyris must replicate the weight record set by Ajax back in 1938.The 57kg impost matches what Fastnet...
Freedman eyes Ninja's mile potential in Randwick Guineas
Michael Freedman counts on Ninja getting forward in the run as an essential element boosting his shot at the Group One Randwick Guineas.Unlike key challengers Autumn Boy and Attica, who prefer to come from off the pace, Ninja showed his flexibility in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by tracking the pacesetter...
Experienced Coal Crusher set for Newcastle Stakes challenge
If Coal Crusher maintains his strong connection with the Newcastle venue, he could provide Joe Pride with an excellent beginning to his weekend on a prominent regional racing occasion.On a quick six-day freshen-up from his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) defeat at Randwick, the gelding lines up in Friday's Group 3...
Rawiller's decision spotlights Lady Shenandoah's Canterbury Stakes bid
With Ciaron Maher readying Gringotts for his seasonal reappearance in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, another jockey has accidentally boosted the credentials of a prominent rival entrant.Nash Rawiller built an impressive alliance with Gringotts late in his previous campaign, notching successive wins in the Big Dance and The Gong.They were...