Back Yourself!
Sign-up and start betting with Ladbrokes in 2 minutes!
Back A Winner with Neds!
Sign-up and start betting with Neds in 2 minutes!
Daily Racing Specials!
Sign-up and bet with Australia's best new bookmaker!
#1 Ranked New Bookie
Sign-up and bet with Australia's #1 ranked new bookmaker!
Best Of The Best Odds!
Bet With Palmerbet and get Paid Top Fluc or Top Tote!
Massive Odds on All Races!
Sign-up and start betting with PlayUp in 2 minutes!
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Search
 
Image: Bruno Cannatelli
Michael Kent Jnr has taken a liking to progeny of American sire Declaration Of War

It isn’t often that a weekend 1600-metre three-year-old maiden could unearth a horse with Derby prospects, or even one with Group 1 potential over any distance, but the win of Green Belt at Cranbourne on Sunday has the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable eyeing the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) in May or the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) as possibilities.

Green Belt won the Hygain Maiden Plate in impressive fashion ridden by Jamie Kah.

“It was her first ride on the horse and he’s shown a lot of ability,” Kent told RSN.

“He’s a lovely colt and he’s one of our American experiments.

“We’ve ended up with eight or nine yearlings from America over the last two-and-a-half years and he’s definitely shown a lot of ability.”

Green Belt is by Declaration Of War (USA) who won the 2013 Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1609m) and in that same year the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes (2092m).

Declaration Of War won over distances ranging from 1500 metres to just under 2200 metres.

“It was a big ask for a young colt and he’s just turned three by northern hemisphere time so to go to a mile at his first start off two trials, he’s a gross horse, and got pressured early, they rolled along with a good tempo and to break the field up was quite good under light riding.

“He’s a lazy colt so I think there is more there for sure.

“If we can win one more race and put him away for a Derby, like Russian Camelot, that’d be fantastic.”

Their experience going further to knowing that there isn’t a lot different to be done in preparation.

“We train them much the same (as the local horses) but the American thoroughbred is a beautiful animal,” Kent Jnr adds.

“As we know, European horses are a little bit finer boned but the American athletes have got that strength of the Australian horses but more scope.

“We’re buying the turf pedigrees so we targeted Declaration Of War on the back of his success for those two seasons through 2019 and 2020 where he sired a Melbourne Cup winner (Vow And Declare), a Victoria Derby winner (Warning) and the Queensland Oaks winner (Winning Ways).

“It was unheralded (and) If they were down here everyone would be trying to buy them. Over in America they weren’t highly thought of so were able to grab four at a nice price.

“The two Declaration Of War horses to have raced are both one-for-one and we bought them at a nice price.”

 
*Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Featured News

FREE BETS – Claim $1000’s in Bonus Bets at the TOP Betting Sites

We take a look at the BIGGEST and BEST Free Daily Racing Offers and Betting Promotions from Australia’s leading online...

Golden Slipper Likely Field – 2024

The biggest two-year-old race of the year will jump this Saturday in arguably one of the best fields in recent...

Former trainer handed a five-year ban for pulling stewards pants down

Former trainer Todd Balfour has been handed a five-year disqualification by Racing SA stewards after a misconduct incident at the...

Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant passes away

Verry Elleegant, one of the great mares in the history of Australian racing, has died while giving birth to her...

Watch 📺 Jockey banned from all racing premises over ride

Jockey Dylan Kitts has been penalised with a disciplinary officer exclusion directive due to non-compliance with an inquiry regarding his...

Group 1 winner returns positive swab

Racing Victoria stewards are investigating a positive swab from Group 1-winning mare Prowess, the racehorse trained by Roger James and...

Alligator Blood injured, career in doubt

Cult galloper Alligator Blood may have run his last race, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott confirming the star galloper had...

Nikita Beriman returns to the saddle

July 1, 2023 to January 26, 2024 … that period represents the just shy of seven months that Nikita Beriman...

Australia's Best Betting Sites

New Betting Sites Australia + Top List Bookmaker Apps $$$

Betting in Australia has never been more popular thanks to a large increase in new betting Agencies and Apps available...

Top 10 – Funniest Race Horse Names

Horse racing. Known as the ‘Sport Of Kings’, an industry worth billions, a very serious business…but to some, it’s a...

Best Horse Betting Sites in Australia

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps and Betting Sites – March 2024

We take a look at the best online betting apps to bet on horse racing in Australia for the month...

Golden Slipper

The Golden Slipper is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in Australia. Taking place each April at...

Australian Bookmaker Reviews – Online Bookie Ratings $$

Which bookmaker should you bet with? We Review each of the leading online Australian Bookmakers and rate them in order...

 
 
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au