There’s a burgeoning rivalry brewing between Te Akau Racing fillies Belle Du Monde and Cool Aza Rene, and that will continue at Riccarton Park on Saturday in the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m).
The ledger currently sits at one in favour of Belle Du Monde after she beat her stablemate by half a neck first-up over 1000m, a result that the stable were expecting to go the other way over the shorter trip.
“Cool Aza Rene’s first-up run was good, she just got beaten by the stablemate (Belle Du Monde),” Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton assistant trainer Hunter Durrant said. “We thought she was probably the better of the two over 1000m, but I think the stablemate who beat her is pretty classy.
“Belle Du Monde is a lovely filly, she will love the 1200m and she will only get better once she steps up over more ground.
“She will probably get a nice run in just behind the speed (from barrier two) and she will be pretty hard to beat I would say.”
Stablemate Best Rose will also be shooting for black-type in the race where she will be ridden by Courtney Barnes from barrier seven.
“She ran well first-up (third over 1000m) and probably went better than I expected,” Durrant said. “She has trained on very well. Her work on Tuesday with Cool Aza Rene was super.”
On the undercard, three-year-old colt War Of Silence will make his debut in the Vale Tony Dennis Maiden (1200m).
“He is a lovely colt by Snitzel,” Durrant said. “He looks outstanding and he has trialled well.
“Opie (Bosson) knows him well, he has ridden him in a few trials.
“It’s a race we won last year with Age of Discovery, so hopefully we can do that again.”
Group One performer Perfect Scenario will also represent the stable in The Sefton Tavern Open Sprint (1200m), while Cognito will contest the NZ Horse Ambulance Winter Appeal (1800m) after winning first-up over 1580m last month.
“1200m is more likely to suit Perfect Scenario,” Durrant said. “1000m last start was short of his best. He comes into this nicely with the three-kilo claim of Hayley’s (Hassman, apprentice jockey). He always tries hard and he is always thereabouts.
“It was a really nice win by Cognito, it is good to see him back in form. He has to carry four more kilos this time but there are no queries against that, he has trained on super.
“He has still got improvement to go with his coat, so he is only going to get better as we get further into his prep.”
The stable will also be represented at the meeting by Alminette in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Rating 75 (1400m), Hooray For Harry in the NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series Rating 65 (1200m), and Our Milly Bee in the Vale Hec Anderton Rating 65 (2000m).
“Alminette is a mare that is always in solid form,” Durrant said. “She puts her best foot forward when she goes to the races. She has a nice draw (4) and has Opie on. It is a reasonably open field, so she will get every chance.
“Our Milly Bee is a lovely staying mare who tries hard. The step up to 2000m won’t be any query. Maybe just the firm track might see her struggle a little bit.
“Hooray For Harry was a bit unlucky first-up. He got held in by the stablemate, but he has got very good form down the straight at Riccarton over 1200m, so I expect him to improve. He carries 60 kilos but has Opie on, so hopefully he can run well.”