Browns’ biding time with Belle du Nord
TRAINING pair Emma-Lee and David Browne have not gotten as much work into group performer Belle du Nord as they would have liked, but the team is not panicking ahead of an important preparation.
Emma-Lee Browne said the gifted filly is still on track to make an impact this spring.
“She’s very well, but we haven’t been able to get as much work into her as we might have liked,” Browne said.
“Like everyone else, we’re hoping the tracks improve, but at this stage we’re happy with her and her main aim is Riccarton.”
The Riccarton race Browne alluded to is the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas on November 18 and Belle du Nord will take another step toward Christchurch when the horse runs in Saturday’s Group Three Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes.
“We’re all set for Hastings and looking forward to it,” Browne said.
“She’s improving and safely through Saturday she’ll run in the Soliloquy Stakes or the Sarten Memorial.”
Belle du Nord was an impressive winner last season at Ellerslie and the filly was spelled after finishing runner-up behind champion two-year-old Melody Belle in the Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni.
The horse returned last month at Taupo where Belle du Nord came from the back of the field to beat all but Astor, with subsequent Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes winner Dijon Bleu in third spot.
“We were really happy with her and she finished off well, it was a game effort,” Browne said.
Belle du Nord’s stakes-placed stablemate Ja Ja Binks is another Brown runner looking to make an impact after returning from a break.
Brown said the approach has been a patient one following a trial in August.
“She doesn’t like wet tracks so we gave her three weeks out after Te Teko,” Browne said.
“It’s done her the world of good and she looks fantastic. We’ll just wait for the weather to break before we look for something for her.”