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Back-up plan for Bella Court; Werther makes immediate impact; Breeding on Zaviera’s side; Star galloper joins Marsh

Back-up plan for Bella Court

Awapuni filly Bella Court pulled up well after her game effort for second in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes.

“That was a lot better from her and I may back her up on Saturday and then give her 10 days off before we look at the Desert Gold Stakes,” trainer Lisa Latta said.

“She’s a completely different horse to what she was as a two-year-old when we couldn’t keep any weight on her.”

A juvenile winner and fifth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, Bella Court also holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Levin Classic at Trentham on January 16.

Werther makes immediate impact

Werther has pressed his Gr.1 Hong Kong Derby claims with a stunning debut victory from John Moore’s stable.

The Tavistock four-year-old’s win over 1600m at Sha Tin on Sunday came at his first appearance after his sale off the back of a successful Australian campaign, which saw him claim the Gr.2 Eagle Farm Cup.

He also ran second in both the Gr.1 South Australian Derby and Gr.1 Queensland Derby for his former trainer Andrew Campbell.

A sister to Werther (Lot 185) will be offered by Highden Park during the Premier session at Karaka in 2016.

Breeding on Zaviera’s side

Zaviera will have a pedigree edge to call on when she tackles the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship final at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

“That Zabeel factor kicks in at 2200 metres,” Cambridge trainer Roger James said.

The five-year-old daughter of the champion stallion showed her staying qualities when she capped off two previous second placings with a Rating 75 victory at Ellerslie on Saturday.

“It was nice to see her find the line so well, in her last two starts she had got to the front with ease and then lost concentration,” James said.

Star galloper joins Marsh

Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair is now in the stable of expatriate Kiwi trainer Bruce Marsh.

The multiple Group One winner was one of five horses moved by the Warplan Racing Stable from Alwin Tan to Marsh.

The winner of 14 of his 20 starts, War Affair hasn’t raced since he finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Singapore Derby in July.