Belle Plaisir brilliant

Trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy bade farewell to their Angaston stables with a black type success by Belle Plaisir at Morphettville on Saturday, May 21.

The final horses will be floated from the Angaston Raceside stables to the McEvoy’s Ballarat base in Victoria on Monday with the decision by owner Wayne Mitchell to put the property on the market.

At Morphettville, Belle Plaisir came from last without going around a horse to land the Group 3 Robert A Lee Stakes (1600m).

Ridden by stable jockey Barend Vorster, the five-year-old mare won by a head from Cherry Tortoni ($5) with Excelida ($6), 2-3/4 lengths away third.

Trainer Tony McEvoy said the stable would now look to the $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at weight-for-age for fillies and mares at Eagle Farm on Saturday, June 4.

In the Lee Stakes, Vorster allowed the mare to settle towards the tail of the field on the inside trailing Cherry Tortoni.

As the field fanned turning for home, Cherry Tortoni moved several horses off the inside, but Vorster decided to stay inside.

The pair drew clear but, on the line, Belle Plaisir had done enough to win in a photo.

Trainer Tony McEvoy said he was delighted the mare had prevailed.

“She is really a good little mare,” McEvoy said.

“She came over from New Zealand, Lucy Tanner and her partners sent her over to us.

“She has raced really well for us and to win a Group 3 today with this mare is very special.

“Belle Plaisir had some form around good quality horses in New Zealand, so we knew she had what it took.

“She still hasn’t had the conditions to really suit her – she loves getting into the ground, and it just hasn’t rained enough here.

“We might take her north now. It is raining a lot up there, and a half-million fillies and mares race in a fortnight looks ideal.

“We will see how she comes through this and try to get her up there.”

Winning jockey Barend Vorster was delighted with the run he had on Belle Plaisir.

“I was very confident where I was in the run,” Vorster said.

“Knowing the horse in front of me (Cherry Tortoni) was going to take me all the way.

“What ever run he chose turning for home, I was going to take the opposite.

“I was very happy to see him go to the outside of the leader, so I just took up the inside.

“Last time I was a bit frustrated because we just didn’t get the gaps and she went past the post on the bridle.

“Today, she showed what sort of ability she has got.”