Group Two Winner for Reliable Man

Media Release - Sunday December 16

With a classy come-from-behind performance in Saturday's $100,000 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa, Karaka graduate Belle du Nord (NZ) (Reliable Man) claimed a valuable Group 2 win to sit alongside her multiple big-race placings.

Reliable ManA $50,000 yearling purchase at Karaka in 2016, Belle du Nord won on debut as a two-year-old and has subsequently placed in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m), the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) and the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) in Adelaide.

But Saturday was Belle du Nord's day in the sun. After dropping out to the rear of the classy eight-horse field in the Te Rapa fillies and mares' feature, jockey Vinnie Colgan angled the four-year-old to the outside to make her run.

Contenders lined up across the track in an exciting finish, but Belle du Nord's potent finishing burst carried her to a half-length victory over the defending championLizzie L'Amour(NZ) (Zabeel).

Raced by the Northern Club Racing Syndicate No. 12 (managed by Sir David Williams KNZM, QC), Belle du Nord has now earned $194,224 in prizemoney – more than 3.8 times her purchase price.

"I'm rapt for the owners," said Emma-Lee Browne, who trains in partnership with her husband David. "We had to wait a little while to get her second win, but she's kept stepping up in big races and she's performed in Australia. This is a great result and she's a really valuable broodmare now."

Belle du Nord's dam Bankside Belle has had two foals to race, both of them black-type performers. Fellow Karaka graduateWhat Choux Want(NZ) (Jimmy Choux) won twice and placed in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes and Listed Welcome Stakes.

Curraghmore will offer a Jimmy Choux half-brother to Belle du Nord at Karaka 2019, going through the ring as Lot 1019 in Book 2.

Vendor Bradbury Park
Purchaser Michael Otto Bloodstock (Auckland)
Breeding Reliable Man – Bankside Belle
Sale Lot 302, 2016 Nation Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, $50,000
Bred by Nearco Stud Limited
Advertisment
More Reading...
Westbury Stud Celebrate a Second Oaks Winner for Reliable Man
Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man has had an incredible run this past week, led by his all-conquering daughter Miami Bound who won the Group II Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday, before her dominant victory in the Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) at the Melbourne track on Thursday.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Karaka Million Goal for Reliable Man Filly
Promising two-year-old De La Terre will look to improve on the family record in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) after she looked to have cemented her place in the million dollar feature with a comfortable victory over 1000m at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Benaud Chasing First Stakes Success
John O’Shea is hopeful Benaud can return to winning form when he lines-up in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on Saturday.