Bella Ballerina targets Golden Rod Stakes win for back-to-back G2 glory

Impressive debut winner Bella Ballerina aims to provide Godolphin with back-to-back victories in the G2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs in US on Saturday.

Good Cheer captured the extended-mile contest for juvenile fillies 12 months ago and returned on the first Friday in May to capture the G1 Kentucky Oaks.

Bella Ballerina is herself related to a Kentucky Oaks winner, being a half-sister to the 2023 scorer Pretty Mischievous, who was third in the 2022 Golden Rod Stakes.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Bella Ballerina made an exciting introduction at Keeneland in early October, when she stormed clear to take a six-furlong maiden by four and a quarter lengths.

Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin US, said: “Bella Ballerina made an impressive debut last month at Keeneland. Brendan has been very happy with how she has done since then and Tyler Gaffalione worked her last weekend and was pleased with her breeze.

“Bella Ballerina will stretch out to two turns from six furlongs and will have to overcome a bit of a wide draw, but I don’t anticipate that either will be an issue.

“Brendan expects her to run very well and hopefully she can follow in the footsteps of our previous Golden Rod runners Good Cheer and Pretty Mischievous, who both went onto Kentucky Oaks glory the following spring.”

Weight Drop boosts Chergui in G3 Blue Sapphire Stakes: A 4kg weight drop could be crucial to Chergui’s winning chances as the three-year-old leads a triple-pronged Godolphin charge on the G3 Blue Sapphire Stakes over 1,200m at Caulfield on Saturday.

Chergui carried 61kg when fourth to Blaze Away as favourite at the same track on 12 November under jockey Craig Williams.

Mark Zahra takes over in the Blue Sapphire under favourable set-weights conditions and co-trainers Ben, Will and J.D. Hayes anticipate a better performance from the son of Darley’s US stallion Frosted at his fourth start for their Flemington stable.

A repeat of Chergui’s autumn form, when placed behind McGaw and Prestige Forever in feature Melbourne races before spelling, would have the gelding hard to beat.

Williams is booked to ride the Too Darn Hot filly Caffettiera for Godolphin on the quick back-up from her second at Cranbourne last weekend.

Co-trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman were pleased with the run and Caffettiera was an impressive Mornington winner previously.