PHOTO: Bradley Photos
There were a million good reasons for connections not to worry about whether the race is going to be officially recognised as a Group 2, as Per Incanto's high-class sprinter miler Belclare showed Australian racegoers her true ability with an outstanding all the way win in the Group 2 $2 million The Invitation over 1400m at Randwick on Saturday.
Packed full of Group 1 performers, Saturday’s event certainly deserved its status as a high-class race, and Belclare’s winning time of 1.20.74 - the track record is held by Trapeze Artist at 1.20.33 - reinforced that standing.
After not reaching her reserve of $700k at this years Gold Coast Broodmare Sale, Wairarapa breeders and owners David and Deb Woodhouse entrusted the rising seven-year-old mare to trainer Bjorn Baker and the expat Kiwi fine-tuned the mares preparation to a nicety using two prep races to have her at peak fitness.
Belclare’s record now stands at 39 starts for 12 wins and six seconds, for stake earnings of nearly $2 million Australian.
Per Incanto has sired three Australian stakeswinners in the last month, and the son of Street Cry is the leading NZ active sire in 11th position on the Australian Sires Premiership with earnings of $2.814 million.
