Rejuvenating the careers of tried horses has been a pillar of Joe Pride’s journey as a trainer and Belle Detelle, a three-quarter sister to star galloper Verry Elleegant, is his latest project.
The mare will have her second start for the Warwick Farm horseman in Saturday’s Merrylands RSL Handicap (2000m), having finished fourth over an unsuitable 1600m at her first appearance for the stable.
The winner of the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at three, there is no doubting Belle Detelle has talent, but the now five-year-old has struggled for form since her Group win and her owners are hoping a new environment might spark a change.
“She has stayed with the same connections, they just gave me a call and asked did I want to give her a go,” Pride said.
“She’s been over at my place for five or six weeks.
“I took her to the races the other day rather than give her a trial, and I thought she went really well.
“She just poked home at the end of the race. It wasn’t a tough run, so I thought I’d give her a go at 2000 metres. She’s done really well, and I’ve been really happy with her.”
Belle Detelle hasn’t won since the Adrian Knox, her best recent effort a second to Sounds Unusual at Rosehill in May.
Pride says she has been relatively straightforward, although he is working on curbing her enthusiasm on the training track.
“She goes a bit hard in trackwork but that’s something we’re working on and hopefully she’ll be better next preparation,” he said.
“It won’t be a long campaign, just two or three runs. I want to get my head around her a little bit then we can give her a break and once I can start from scratch with her, she’ll be better again.”
Barn mate Anthracite will line up in the same race on a seven-day turnaround from his third to King Of The Sea at Randwick last weekend.
He was given a positive ride by Andrew Adkins on that occasion and the hoop will again be instructed to be on-speed.
“He’s a quirky horse but he seems to be heading in the right direction,” Pride said.
“He’ll roll forward, hopefully get control, and should be strong again. He seems to be thriving on the work and the racing.”
Anthracite and Belle Detelle are at $8 and $10 respectively with bookmakers, with the promising Aethelwulf an odds-on favourite.
