WA-bred Group 1 winning filly Sheeza Belter is one the Finalists for Champion Australian 2YO at the Australian Racing Awards in Melbourne on Saturday evening.
Sheeza Belter was a barnstorming winner of the RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at Pinjarra in February before franking the WA form in the G2 Brisbane Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and G1 J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) at the Queensland Winter Carnival.
She was bred by Mt Hallowell Stud owner Craig Thompson and sold to Justin Warwick for $50,000 at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Thompson raced her sire Gold Standard (Sebring) and her dam Saxabelle (Saxon) and her earnings already exceed $1.44 million.
Now trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Sheeza Belter was due to start first-up in the G2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick this Saturday, however, she was withdrawn on Friday.
Of all the options available to her this spring, Peter Snowden has pinpointed the $2 million The Invitation (1400m) as the ideal target at Randwick on October 22.
“The Invitation fits in perfectly to her program and what we’ve got planned. I think 1400m is definitely her best trip.
“Her coat is about 80 per cent there and fitness-wise she’s certainly not screwed down yet.”
Fireburn (Rebel Dane) is expected to win the Australian Champion 2YO Award. She won the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes and G1 Sydney Sires’ Produce Stakes and they both warranted a Timeform performance of 118 which was the best of any juvenile last season.
The Chris Waller-trained stablemates Verry Elleegant and Nature Strip are favoured to fight out honours for Australian Racehorse of the Year. Verry Elleegant will be aiming to win it back-to-back while Nature Strip won it in 2019-20.
Mt Hallowell Stud started the new season in style with 3yo geldings Mojo’s Luck and Sisu Warrior both winning at Belmont in August.
Mojo’s Luck (3g Rubick – Triband by Fastnet Rock) was a $100,000 Mt Hallowell graduate from the 2021 Perth Magic Millions and is from a family full of black-type winners in Europe. He is trained by Luke Fernie who also prepared Sheeza Belter before her transfer to Sydney.
Sisu Warrior (3g Gold Standard – Porto Cristo by Encosta De Lago) was retained by Mt Hallowell and is prepared by Grant & Alana Williams. He’s a half-brother Belmont winner Zadok (Longma) and their dam is a daughter of G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Faiza (Danehill).
