Fiorente Filly Wins Belmont Classic

Fiorente (IRE) added a seventh stakes-winner to his resume in Perth on Saturday when Baronova came from last to score a short head win in a thrilling finish to the Listed Belmont Classic (2200m) at Belmont Park.

Given a patient ride by Willie Pike, Baronova made her run down the centre of the track to claim a narrow victory.

After three consecutive wins, Baronova blotted her copybook when a disappointing sixth at her most recent start in the Belmont Oaks won by Chili Is Hot, but her trainer Justin Warwick said she should be forgiven for that run.

“It was a very exciting race. A small field and we were last in a slowly run race, so it was always going to be hard,” Warwick said.

“I’ll be honest, even at the 150m, I thought we were going to finish fourth or fifth. The others started to get a bit tired, and Willie lifted her over the line.

“I don’t think anyone else would have lifted her, especially considering he dropped his whip at the top of the straight; that is how strong and talented he is.

“She got flattened in the (Belmont) Oaks, and she didn’t pick up. It looked ordinary, so they have to come out and show they are up to it, especially against the colts.

“I think she is a great filly going forward. I think she will have a good career on the east coast at some stage over the longer trips and she will run two miles at some stage as her dad did.

“I will be taking a break (from training) for a bit, so there’s nothing like going out on a high.”

A homebred for the Vam Heemst family’s Lynward Park Stud, Baronova is a half-sister to the Group III WATC La Trice Classic winner I’m Feeling Lucky and the multiple stakes-placed Utgard Loki.

Baronova is out of the unraced Danehill (USA) mare Twinkle Toes, a three-quarter sister to Sumora, the dam of Group I Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Maybe, dam of Coolmore Stud’s dual Group I winning sire Saxon Warrior.

Purchased by John Chalmers Bloodstock for $72,500 at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale, Twinkle Toes is a half-sister to the dam of Group I VRC Emirates Stakes winner Awesome Rock and Group III BTC Doomben Roses and Group I placed Awesome Planet.

Baronova is the second stakes-winner this season for Melbourne Cup hero Fiorente (IRE), who stands at a fee of $11,000 at Widen Stud Victoria.