Belle De Lawers

Belle De Lawers did really well to get as close as she did in the Listed Michael Seely Stakes at York last Friday, given that she raced in rear in the early stages of a race in which it was probably a significant advantage to race handily.

Stone last passing the four-furlong pole, James Bethell's filly was still travelling well at the two-furlong pole and seeking gaps.  She didn't show an instant burst of acceleration when she got into the clear, but she did pick up nicely, and she stayed on well all the way to the line, closing on the leaders through the final 100 yards to finish fifth, closest at the finish. Significantly, she was the only filly who could get into the race from the rear.  The winner, Lustrous, led early and was always handy, while the second, third and fourth all raced prominently.  It was a fine effort by Belle De Lawers to finish on the heels of the leaders.

This was just the Black Sam Bellamy filly's second ever race.  She had sprung a 50/1 shock when she won her maiden on her racecourse debut at Haydock last month, but there did not appear to be any fluke about that victory, and that notion was backed up on Friday.  It is interesting that she was quietly supported in the market just before the race.

The handicapper has raised her 10lb to a mark of 94, but her performance merited a hike of that magnitude, and she would still be interesting in a good handicap off that mark, but she is potentially a Pattern filly anyway.  She still has scope to progress, and she may continue to be under-rated, hailing, as she does, from a relatively small yard.

16th May 2014

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