(301) Newmarket Handicap-G1

Flemington. March 8. $1,000,000. Open Hcp. 1200m.

1. BELLE DU JOUR (D Nikolic 52.5) b m 5 Dehere (USA) - Delightful Belle (NZ), by Balmerino. Trainer: C E Conners.

2. Bel Esprit (D Oliver 53.5) b c 3 Royal Academy (USA) - Bespoken, by Vain.

3. Super Impressive (NZ) (J Patton 52.5) b g 7 Zabeel - Pheroz Fantasy, by Tights (USA)

3/4 len. 2 len. 1m 8.65s. 21 strs.

BELLE DU JOUR (18)

Bay filly foaled 1997

Sold 1999 Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Price $200,000

Breeder: Seg/Advance Breeding Venture, NSW.

Owners: Strawberry Hill Stud Synd, G A & Mrs H M Rose, R J L Hawke & Ms B D'Alpuget.

Click here for Tesio pedigree

Werk Nick Rating: A++

GP Inbreeding: Nasrullah 5m x 5f.

Age	Starts	Wins	2nds	3rds
2	7	4	1	-
3	10	2	-	3
4	7	2	-	1
5	8	1	1	2
	32	9	2	6

Sire: DEHERE (USA) - Bay 1991. Champion 2YO in USA; 6 wins, $723,712, Champagne S-G1, Hopeful S-G1, Fountain of Youth S-G2, Saratoga Special-G2. Closely related to DIABOLO. To stud in USA & Australia in 1995. Shuttling to Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW. Sire in USA and Australia of winners of $35 million - 48 SWs inc DEFIER, BELLE DU JOUR, BOLLINGER, RED HANNIGAN, NATURAL BLITZ, THE MAN, ST THERESE, LADY DEHERE, GALAPAGOS GIRL, FEEL THE NOISE, GRAEME HALL, TAKE CHARGE LADY, MILLIONS, ARRESTED DREAMS, OAMARU RHYTHM, FLEET, MADDIE'S PROMISE, MILLENCOLIN, HER SHE KISSES, MORNING SUN, MISS SEFFENS, RONALDO, DE VALMONT, POLITICAL WIFE, YANKEE TRADITION, IRONMAN DEHERE, SHOOTER, ANDRELLA, RUSSIAN CARAVAN, NESS GADOLL, TYR, DE LOLLIES, FLICK, WHAT A BREEZE, EASYFROMTHEGITGO, DEHERO, etc.

Dam

DELIGHTFUL BELLE (NZ) (1981). 10 wins, $137,679, 880m-1600m, VATC C F Orr S-G2, Memsie S-G2, Tranquil Star S-G3, Thoroughbred Club S-G3, MVRC Carlton Draught S-LR, VRC Evening Peal H, VATC Grange H, SAJC Big Philou H, Avondale Catalan H, 2d VATC Sandown Guineas-G2, 4th VATC Elders Mile-G1. Dam of 14 foals, 12 raced, 9 winners -

87 Knight to Remember (NZ), b c by Sir Tristram (IRE). 4 wins, 1600m-1900m.

88 Tintinnabulation, ch f by Sir Tristram (IRE). Unplaced. Dam of -

Niolist, ch f by Rory's Jester. 2 wins at 900m, 1000m.

Ring a Ding Ding, ch g by Royal Academy (USA). 1 win at 1400m; placed Randwick, Warwick Farm.

89 Backshish, b c by Danzatore (CAN). 1 win at 1400m.

91 Ma Belle Cherie, gr f by Kenmare (FR). 3 wins at 1200m, 1350m, SAJC Evesham Gold Trophy, Class 5 H.

92 Slav Defence, b g by Danehill (USA). 3 wins at 1250m, 1280m, STC Aristocrat H, Eugene H, 2d NJC Spring S-LR.

93 Winning Kid, gr c by Kenmare (FR). Placed; at Sha Tin.

94 Elle Duccio, b f by Danehill (USA). 1 win at 1000m.

95 Golden Award, b c by Royal Academy (USA). 2 wins at 1200m, QTC Jamieson's Irish Whiskey H, BTC 2YO Maiden H.

96 Belzero, br f by Danzero. 3 wins, 1200m-1500m, BTC Hahn Premium H.

97 BELLE DU JOUR. 9 wins, $3,164,726, at 1100m, 1200m, VRC Newmarket H-G1, STC Golden Slipper S-G1, Reisling Slipper Trial S-G2, VRC Linlithgow S-G2, Gilgai S-G3, AJC Kindergarten S-G3, AJC Little Bay H, STC Classic Hits 2WS-FM H, 2d AJC Expressway S-G2, GCTC Magic Millions 2YO Classic-RL, 3d STC Coolmore Classic-G1, VRC Linlithgow S-G2, STC Theo Marks H-G2, Queen of the Turf S-G2, AJC Light Fingers S-G2, MRC Kevin Heffernan S-LR, 4th Dubai Golden Shaheen-G1.

98 Roi du Jour, b c by Spectrum (IRE). 2 wins at 1200m, in Singapore.

99 Palme d'Or, b f by Royal Academy (USA). Started twice.

00 Alle Belle Be, ch f by Spectrum (IRE). Unraced.

01 (Unnamed) b f by Danehill (USA).

Missed in 1986, 1990. Mare died February 2003.

2nd Dam

KASHMIR BELLE. 6 wins, 1000m-1400m, Taranaki S, ARC Epsom H, Flying H, Victoria H, 4th ARC Eclipse S. Dam of 10 foals, all raced, 8 winners inc-

DELIGHTFUL BELLE. See above.

Kashmir King. 6 wins, 1500m-2400m, VATC Norman Nelson H, Monbulk Highweight H.

Grand Commander. Won Avondale Juvenile Maiden H (1200m)

Chantilly Belle. 4 wins, 1200m-1600m; placed Trentham. Dam of-

Top Performance. 7 wins, $572,883, 975m-1650m, Sha Tin South Bay H, North Point H, Happy Valley Wayfoong Centenary Bowl, Fleming H.

Tio Violet. 2 wins at 1400m, 1575m, ARC Improvers H, Maiden H.

Charming Belle. 1 win at 1200m. Dam of -

Miss Charmer. 2 wins at 1400m, 2175m, VATC Attley H, 3d VRC St Leger-G3.

3rd Dam

PHAR BELLE. Placed. Half-sister to STAR BELLE (Champion 3YO in New Zealand; 18 wins, ARC Great Northern Derby), the dam of LORD WAVERLEY, and grandam of WONDER DANCER, TRI BELLE, BIG SPENDER, TENNESSEE BELLE; also half-sister to Superior Star, to the dam of MELODY BELLE, grandam of SHUMANSHU, third dam of LORD TED, SHANNON BELLE, PARADISE BELLE, and fourth dam of SHARSCAY, ST SHANNON. Dam of 15 living foals, 9 raced, 7 winners inc -

KASHMIR BELLE. See above.

Novia. Unraced. Producer. Grandam of -

TRIVIA LASS. 3 wins, 1600m-2137m, SAJC Sires' Produce S-G3, STC Truscotts H, VATC Twilight Glow H, 2d SAJC Oaks-G1, 3d MVRC W H Stocks S-G3, 4th VRC Oaks-G1, QTC Eagle Farm S-LR.

Fancy Belle. 1 win at 1200m. Dam of -

OLIVER BEER. 9 wins, $174,380, 1100m-1600m, SAJC Baker Young Trophy-LR, Swan Hill Cup, SAJC Magic Millions H, AAPT Championships H, Feltex H, 2d SAJC Pope Packaging S-LR.

Classy's Magic. 7 wins at 1400m, 1600m, ARC Ford Explorer H, Waikato Prime TV H, ARC Lion Red H, Smokefree H, Avondale Matua Valley Wines H, 2d ARC Great Northern Challenge S-LR, 3d Bay of Plenty Thames Valley S-G3, 4th ARC King's P-G3.

Luna di Miele. Started 6 times. Dam of -

AEROSMITH. 12 wins, $1,375,005, 1100m-3200m, WRC Wellington Cup-G1, Waikato Whakanui Stud International S-G1, VATC Sandown Classic-G2, WRC Trentham S-G3, VRC Turnbull S-G2, MVJC H F Feehan S-G2, CJC Easter Cup-G2, ARC Bluebird Foods Championship Final, Manawatu 2YO H, WRC Summer Cup, 2d ARC Auckland Cup-G1, Awapuni Gold Cup-G2, 3d VATC Caulfield S-G1, VRC L K S Mackinnon S-G1, MVRC Bill Stutt S-G2, Bay of Plenty Japan/NZ International Trophy-G2, 4th VRC L K S Mackinnon S-G1, MVRC AAMI Vase-G3, Hawkes Bay Horlicks P-LR.

Theme. Placed; 3d CJC Welcome S-LR. Dam of -

Tapca. Placed; 3d QTC J F Meynink S-LR.

Ruling Belle. Unplaced. Dam of -

TRISTRAM. 6 wins, 1000m-2000m, VATC Royal Show H-LR, Gold Coast Rothmans Classic-LR, VATC Minook H, La Trobe H, Granville S, Kynton Cup, 2d VATC Caulfield Guineas-G1, QTC Sires' Produce S-G2, 3d AJC Spring Champion S-G1, QTC Castlemaine S-G1. Sire.

ANOTHER great field of 21 talented sprinters contested the $1,000,000 Newmarket Handicap. Last year's winner Rubitano was installed favourite, just ahead of North Boy, but it was a big task to be asking with his top weight of 58.5kg, and his was a good effort finishing eighth in a bunch behind the placegetters.

Bel Esprit who had been disappointing in his first efforts this autumn was well supported after some brilliant track trials and admirably reinstated his reputation. Racing on the rails side of the straight course, he took the lead 200 metres with an outstanding run well clear of the others for second.

It was the grandstand disivion that had it though, and Belle du Jour in the best form of her career was equally brilliant finishing 3/4 length ahead of Bel Esprit, the pair being a widening two lengths clear of the others. Super Impressive finished brilliantly on the grandstand for third just ahead of Choisir who was close up on the rails.

Trainer Clarry Connors was "over the moon" with the Belle du Jour's win and said after the race that she was the "best she has ever been her whole life". Subsequent to the Newmarket, the mare finished fourth in the Gr.1 Dubai Golden Shaheen and is to continue training in Ireland with Dermot Weld.