Former Perth filly Sheeza Belter returned to form on Saturday with a pleasing victory in the G2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.
Ridden by Willie Pike, she ranged up to the leaders at the furlong and then emphasised her superiority to win running away from Lavish Girl (Xtravagant) and More Secrets (More Than Ready). It was her fourth black-type victory in nine starts and sent her earning through $1.76 million for a syndicate managed by Justin Warwick.
“We were quietly confident she would run very well,” co-trainer Paul Snowden claimed. “She’s had a few little setbacks in this prep – nothing massive – but we had to pull the pin and then go again.
“Her work on Tuesday was very good after that first-up run in The Invitation (1400m) last month when she didn’t see any daylight behind the main wall. And we were back on top of the ground today so full credit to her.”
Sheeza Belter won the RL Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at Pinjarra in February before transferring to Snowden Racing and franking that formline in the G2 Brisbane Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and G1 J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) at the Queensland Winter Carnival.
Mt Hallowell Stud owner Craig Thompson bred her using Gold Standard (Sebring) over his Perth winner Saxabelle (Saxon) and sold her for $50,000 to Warwick at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions.
Thompson had raced Gold Standard to a Group 2 victory in the Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill and was a strong supporter when he retired to Spendthrift Farm. Now based at Widden Stud’s Victorian base, his service fee has risen to $17,600 after starting at $5,500.
Saxabelle is a half-sister to the dam of Stakes winners Special Reward (Demerit), Showy Chloe (Alfred Nobel) and El Rijes (Eternity Range). Her latest foal reared at Mt Hallowell’s Denmark property is a More Than Ready (USA) 2yo colt named Call Of Duty.
The recent frustrations may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Sheeza Belter. They continued on Saturday when she pulled a plate going out on to the track and had to pass a vet exam behind the gates.
Then Pike dropped his whip passing the furlong pole.
“The stable has done a fantastic job and being held back while she’s been full of beans has helped her manners,” Pike said. “It should also make her come on as a racehorse.”
