Seven year old Belltone has earned a start in the Stradbroke Handicap with a win in the Group 3 $125,000 Darley BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben today.
Chris Munce and Belltone take out the BRC Sprint at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Winning trainer Kelso Wood is keen to give Belltone a crack at the Group 1 $1.36m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 after missing out on a run last year.
Chris Munce had to wait for the last race of the day to enter the winner’s circle with a gem of a ride on Belltone.
Munce had the gelding travelling well in fourth and fifth position through the race and when the split came in the straight he surged through to score a clear cut win.
Wood will head straight into the Stradbroke now with Belltone who will have to make another step up to be competitive at Group 1 level.
“He’s been a marvellous horse. We will head for the Stradbroke,” Wood said.
Munce was happy to end the day with a winner after having a few disappointing results earlier in the day.
“It’s been a long day up until now so it’s good to end it on a winner,” Munce said.
“A couple of horses didn’t go as good as I would have liked, but that’s racing and we gota move on.”
“He’s terrific old horse, Belltone, he’s got a lot of good people behind him and it’s good for him to win a race like this.”
As expected Listen Son skipped to the front and lead the field into the straight and held on extremely well for third with Mahisara finishing second after also racing on the pace.
The Robert Heathcote trained Fire Up Fifi was sent out the favourite and after making a dash in the straight finished up in fifth spot.
