Bendigo back-up for McEvoy’s Belle

Posted by RS NewsWire at 5:25pm on April 12th

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

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th