Class tells for Belle

Bob Peters bred another All Too Hard winner with staying potential when Bijou Belle scored second-up over 1850 metres at Kyneton on Wednesday.

Bijou Belle was a class above her rivals in the Members Day Raceday Maiden.  The Ken Keys-trained filly took the lead passing the winning post the first time and kicked to a winning lead at the top of the straight.

Peters bred and sold her through the Holbrook Thoroughbreds draft for $130,000 at the 2016 Inglis Classic Sale.  “The further they went, the stronger she got,” assistant trainer Kasey Keys said.  “She will only get better with more racing over longer distances.”

Her dam Jewelled (Zabeel) was a member of All Too Hard’s first book at Vinery.  She had won second time out over 1675m and was stakes placed in the 2009 Belmont Classic LR and Belmont Oaks LR.  Her first two foals Astronomite and Illuminated have both won in Perth.

“She’s only young and got the job done – Ken’s horses are flying,” winning jockey Linda Meech said.  “I sent her forward to stay out of trouble.  She’s out of a Zabeel mare and the step up in distance made all the difference.”

Peters also bred and sold All Too Hard’s last-start Avondale Guineas Gr.2 winner Demonetization for $65,000 through Holbrook at the 2015 Inglis Weanling Sale.  He is also out of a mare by Zabeel.

Demonetization has been ruled out of next month’s New Zealand Derby Gr.1 due to a fetlock injury.  “We had him x-rayed and it showed a stress fracture,” trainer Nigel Tiley said.  “He will have a couple of months off and then we can look forward to his four-year-old season.”

BIJOU BELLE