Lightly raced Belle Savoir kicks off a late autumn campaign at Bendigo that her trainer Nick Ryan hopes will lead to Stakes races in Adelaide.
The Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m) on Saturday will be Belle Savoir’s first outing since the then three-year-old filly finished fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm last June.
That followed a close second to Barb Raider in the Group 2 The Roses (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Ryan explained Belle Savoir required surgery post her Brisbane campaign to ‘tidy up’ a fetlock and the decision was made to bypass the spring.
“She had a tough winter campaign in Brisbane, but she ran super up there,” Ryan said.
“She had minor fetlock surgery, nothing serious, afterwards and we thought we would miss the spring and aim her at the autumn, give her the time.
“It’s done her wonders. She’s come back super.
“Her jump-outs have been really good, and Saturday’s race looks a great race to kick her off in.”
Belle Savoir has raced on six times, registering two wins and two second placings.
She was successful at her only start as a two-year-old and returned just on a year later to win at Sandown first-up where plans were hatched for a Brisbane campaign.
The rain early in week was good news for Ryan who said Belle Savoir likes the sting out the track.
Following Saturday’s outing, Ryan is planning to head to Sandown on April 15 and then depending on her form head to Morphettville for the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) on May 6 and the Centaurea Stakes (2000m) on May 20.
“She’ll run on Saturday and then she’ll run on the VOBIS Gold Day at Sandown,” Ryan said.
“Then there’s two Stakes races over in Adelaide we might look at with her.”
