BEL’S TWO STATE DOUBLE

Another double for Bel Esprit on Friday (7 May) with Bel Shandy kicking off the program at Bendigo, while Belletrist, ended the day’s racing at the Sunshine Coast with a comfortable win over 1000m as a $1.60 favourite.
Bel Shandy, who is bred, part-owned and trained by Kyneton’s Neil Dyer, has come into his own this campaign with a fourth at Swan Hill in April – his first run in 22 weeks – and followed up with a top third to Statue of Liberty sprinter, Liberty Tycoon, over 1121m at Geelong a fortnight later.
Despite racing three wide to the turn, Bel Shandy proved too good for rivals at Bendigo with almost a length to spare.
Bel Shandy is out of the brilliant Euclase mare, Miss Bently, who won 13 starts (along with three stakes placings) and is a half sister to stakes winner Gently Bently and closely related to multiple stakes winner Touch of Genius.
Bel Shandy is also linebred to Vain through a son and a daughter.
Meanwhile, Queensland bred, Belletrist, completed the daily double with a comfortable victory over 1000m on the Sunshine Coast cushion.
Backed from $2 to $1.60 in the final flurry, Belletrist settled midfield before scooting away in the straight to win by an easy two.
This was the third win (and second placing) from only eight starts for the Troy Hall trained Belletrist and she is yet to finish out of the money – never further back than fourth.
Bred by Canungra Pastoral, Belletrist is out of the stakes winning Roman Prince mare Lady Nicekeilli, a sister to Group winner and Queensland Derby-G1 third Moods.
Belletrist is also a half sister to three other winners including the Group placed Royal Academy 2YO Breezer.