Season of Success: Beautiful Belle

Belle Cheval (Savabeel – Keepa Cheval, by Keeper) continued her outstanding three-year-old season when producing a brilliant performance to win the $150,000 Group 3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) on 21 February at Ellerslie.

Already impressive when taking out the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions' Night at Ellerslie, Belle Cheval arrived at the Uncle Remus Stakes in terrific form, having already recorded two victories from four starts, along with a gallant third in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

Despite drawing the outside barrier (12), she was deservedly sent out race favourite. However, her task looked anything but straightforward when she settled back and wide in the early stages.

In another masterclass from Te Akau stable jockey Opie Bosson ONZM, recently celebrating his remarkable 100th Group One victory, Belle Cheval was gradually worked into the race from the 900 metres before finding cover approaching the home turn. Once presented with clear running in the straight, she quickly ranged alongside the leaders at the 200-metre mark before drawing clear with authority to score in impressive fashion.

On a Soft5 surface, Belle Cheval covered the 1400 metres in 1:23.6, with her final 600 metres in a slick 35.0 seconds, returning $2.00 and $1.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

The victory confirmed Belle Cheval had arrived as one of the country's outstanding three-year-old fillies and perfectly set her up for a crack at the inaugural $4 million NZB Kiwi.

She produced another outstanding performance on the biggest stage, storming home to be desperately unlucky when beaten only a short head in the $4 million NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m). In doing so, she chased home stablemate Damask Rose, who gave Te Akau Racing victory in New Zealand's newest and richest race after representing the stable's slot in the inaugural running in 2025.

Belle Cheval's season continued to soar when she crossed the Tasman and crowned her campaign with a magnificent victory in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill. Her elite-level success elevated her into calculations for both Champion Three-Year-Old and New Zealand Horse of the Year honours, underlining the exceptional season she had produced.

Bred by Archer Investments for owners D L Archer, S C Archer, N N Micarone and D J Wright, Belle Cheval is out of race-winning mare Keepa Cheval, who has established herself as an outstanding producer.

Among her progeny is 10-time winner Bostonian (Jimmy Choux), a triple Group One winner, along with Group 3 Championship Stakes (2100m) winner Cheval D'Or (Almanzor). Her eight individual winners have now combined for 26 victories, highlighting the remarkable strength of the family.

Another daughter, Vitesse (Makfi), is the dam of Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) winner Kovalica (Ocean Park), who has also recorded two Group Two victories and a Group Three success.

The depth of the family extends further through second dam Sheila Cheval (Mi Preferido), whose greatest achievement was producing the outstanding Mufhasa (Pentire), winner of 10 Group One races and dual New Zealand Horse of the Year.

Previous Te Akau winners of the Group 3 Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m):

2022 – Wild Night (Vanbrugh)

2021 – On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau)

2020 – Brando (Savabeel)

2017 – Age Of Fire (Fastnet Rock)

2016 – Hall Of Fame (Savabeel)

2015 – Xtravagant (Pentire)