All Esprit Racing eyes were on Beltaria this afternoon at Doomben, as he returned for his first race since May, to win the Jordan Allen Colts, Geldings and Entires Class 1 Handicap over 1050 Metres.
The reason for such focus was that it was identified after his last run that he was not getting sufficient airflow when he was under pressure in his races, so with a small procedure and extended recovery time, this was rectified. Although he had returned in good style to win his jumpout, it would be under real race pressure that it needed to stand up.
Punters were obviously confident it would, as he firmed from some $6 into $2.90 during the afternoon to start equal favourite. A big go!
From barrier 1, Jaden Lloyd claiming 2kg had him in a good trailing position on the rails, and at the top of the straight needed to make a decision whether to swing to the outside, or find a way through. It was the latter option he took, and he weaved through the field to quickly pounce on the lead.
We held our breath (that Beltaria wouldn’t hold his breath) as the swooper Titanium charged at him with seemingly all the momentum.
Respond he did though, and wanting it more like the course commentator said, he lengthened stride like a good horse to win by a growing 0.2l.
As one of the owners put it, “it looks like we have our horse back!”
A well deserved win for a maiden in a class 1 race; he had shown himself to be one of the better maidens going around in Queensland with 2 city placings and a good 7th in the Magic Millions maiden in January on the Gold Coast. Time was a good 1:00.89 for the small field with the last 600m in 33.56s.
Congratulations to everyone for their patience, and well done to the Esprit team for bringing him back so well and the shrewd race placement. It is great that he is now on his winning way, and we are sure he is going to make a lovely horse out to 1400m-1600m as John Symons has always suggested.