Under a copybook ride by Tommy Berry, 5yo God's Own
gelding Bel Thor earned his maiden stakes victory in Sunday's $153,000 listed
Darley Seymour Cup.
Winless since capturing a ratings race over 2000 metres at
Flemington 11 months ago, the Wez Hunter-trained gelding came from midfield
with a rails hugging ride to defeat Darren Weir-trained favourite Our Hand of
Faith (Testa Rossa) by a long-neck with the Quinton Scott-trained 10yo gelding
Another Prelate (Lord Vain) a length back in third.
Tommy Berry said he had been to Seymour once before 12
months ago when he did more running around the track getting ready for the
Melbourne Cup than he did riding.
"It good to come here and great to get the late call-up
from Wez," Berry told TVN.
"I've watched him for a long time, he's a trainer who's
going onwards and upwards. You can see that by how big his stable's getting now
so it's a real pleasure to come and ride for him today.
"I got a beautiful run. We thought we'd be three back
and I had to ask him to get out of the gates a bit more today because he can
just flop out.
"It was a great run first up and he dropped a fair bit
in weight. It just shows how good he is and Wes has got some nice for plans for
him in the future."
A half-brother to the stakes-placed Belscenica (Scenic), Bel
Thor is the fifth foal of the stakes-winning Redding mare Bellonic who hails
from the family of the Group 1 Manikato Stakes winner Piavonic (Scenic) the dam
of VRC Sires Produce Stakes winner and Golden Slipper runner-up Von Costa de
Hero (Encosta de Lago).
Belonic's most recent foal is an unnamed 3yo colt by
Bianconi (USA). She missed in 2011 and 2012 and last season had a very late
service by Lucas Cranach (GER) in January after failing to conceive to Americain
(USA).
Bel Thor is the fifth stakes-winner for God's Own (pictured)
, who now stands at Greta West Stud at a fee of $5,500.
