They certainly breed the fairer sex tough in the Wairarapa. Saturday saw the Masterton bred and raised pair Pennyweka and Belclare (Per Incanto) land Group 1 success in the AJC Oaks and the (1600m) NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Randwick and Pukekohe respectively.
Both had to be clearly superior to their rivals and they were. Three wide for most of the 2400m trip, Pennyweka clearly outstayed her 3YO filly rivals while Belclare also had plenty of work to do to cross from her wide draw to sit outside the leader before racing away to win NZ’s premier event for filly and mares by three lengths.
Bred by David Woodhouse, who also shares in the ownership with wife Deb and a group of close friends, Belclare’s Group 1 win was the deserved culmination of a wonderful season for the 5YO mare which has included the Group 3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders Stakes and the Listed Wairarapa Breeders Stakes.
Belclare, who is Per Incanto’s seventh Group 1 winner, has a yearling half-sister by Time Test and the O’Reilly mare Miss Rhythmic is in foal to Per Incanto.
Meanwhile in more Australian action, Per Incanto’s progressive 3YO gelding Gringotts may have booked himself a float trip to Adelaide or a flight to Brisbane for stakes assignments when he recorded his third consecutive success in a strong age group 1600m event at Sandown on Saturday.
