Belle Cheval, the filly from New Zealand, battled to another dead heat in successive starts, emerging victorious by shoving her nose ahead crucially to annex the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill.
She had been edged out previously by Well Written in a razor-thin verdict during the NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie March 7, trainer Mark Walker confessing to faulty assessments both times yet glad for the Saturday turnaround.
"I actually thought we got beaten today, but I thought we’d won the NZB Kiwi, so I’m not a very good judge," Walker said.
The 2000m Vinery Stud Stakes score gifted Walker a cross-Tasman Group 1 pair, complementing Seize The Day’s earlier Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) win with co-trainer Sam Bergerson in NZ.
Walker was assured of her home form suiting Sydney, her spirit ideal for middle-trip initiation.
"The formline at home is really strong," Walker said.
One-run Sydney mission unchanged for her connections post-triumph.
Spell beckons immediately, Victorian spring targets next, per Walker.
Zac Lloyd, coming off Guest House’s $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) last weekend, re-entered Group 1 ranks on Belle Cheval after repelling Billy Egan’s protest aboard runner-up After Summer.
The horses glanced as Lloyd left the inside for home, stewards deeming the second shifted in.
$2.60 market leader Belle Cheval eased late sans interference to After Summer ($61), protest rejected.
"Normally, she’s known for her dazzling turn of foot, whereas today she built and showed a bit of fight," Lloyd said.
"She’s a good mare, and it was a tenacious win."
Belle Cheval ($2.60 fav) triumphed nose margin over After Summer ($61), Salty Pearl ($4.20) neck third.
New Zealand Oaks winner Ohope Wins ($2.70) ran fourth, three-quarters length behind.
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