Filly returning to scene of previous success

A winning experience at Te Aroha will stand Belle du Nord in good stead when she makes her debut there on Thursday.

The filly will step out in the Ascot Farm 2YO 1200 off the back of a successful trial outing on the course last month.

“She was a bit green in her first trial and she really improved to win the second one,” said Emma-Lee Browne, who trains the daughter of Reliable Man with her husband David.

“We thought she may have taken a bit more time, but she is doing really well and she has thrived since her last trial.

“She’s pretty tough and she hasn’t missed a feed since she was broken in!”

Belle du Nord is bred to run early as she is a half-sister to What Choux Want, a winner and multiple stakes placegetter at two. Their mother Bankside Belle was also successful as a juvenile and a black type performer.

“The filly came to us from Michael Otto, who got her for a group of owners who raced the mother,” Browne said.

Meanwhile, the stable’s promising mare Ja Ja Binks will be returning to the scene of her win on Karaka Million night for her next appearance.

“She’s had a week in the paddock and she’ll run in a Rating 75 over 1200 metres on the first day of the Cup carnival at Ellerslie,” Browne said.

“If she goes well, we could back her up in the Westbury Classic on the last day - if she made the field.”