Ōtaki assignment for Belardo Boy
Paul Vettise - Raceform • July 4th, 2025 10:00 AM • 3 min read
Outstanding wet-track performer Belardo Boy has become a victim of his own success and, as a result, is unlikely to be over-taxed through the winter.
The six-year-old will step out over 1400m at Ōtaki on Saturday, and trainer Lisa Latta will then weigh up her best options with the chestnut.
“We may look at the Opunake Cup, we’ll put in a nomination and see what weight he gets first,” trainer Lisa Latta said.
Belardo Boy successfully shouldered 59 kilograms to triumph in last season’s edition of the Listed Sinclair & Refrigeration-sponsored feature, one of 10 victories on the son of Belardo’s impressive resume.
He also won the Gr. 3 Winter Cup two years ago and finished a game sixth under 60 kilograms in the Riccarton feature last season, but another trip south is doubtful.
“We might miss the Winter Cup and try and angle toward some weight-for-age races in the spring,” Latta said.
“He’s not a big horse and it’s hard for him to carry those weights, unless it’s weight-for-age when he’s on an even keel.”
Belardo Boy will be fourth-up at Ōtaki on Saturday. He resumed with a third in an open sprint, followed by a midfield finish in the Listed Rangitikei Cup. Most recently he was runner-up, after racing closer to the pace than normal, when defending his Listed AGC Training Stakes title at Whanganui.
“It was a good effort last time, there was an on-speed bias, so we rode him a bit out of his comfort zone and he kicked on nicely,” Latta said.
Latta will also be represented in Saturday’s open 1400m handicap by Make Time. The Makfi eight-year-old was second at New Plymouth two runs back before he tailed the field home at Whanganui.
“He was disappointing last start, but it was a very testing track at Whanganui,” Latta said. “It was sticky ground, which he doesn’t like, and he got back in the running and never found the line at all.”
Latta is hopeful a return to Ōtaki, where Make Time is a past course and distance winner, can result in a more competitive performance.
The stable will also have Deadly Pony in the 1600m Rating 75 and Damiano in the 1600m maiden on Saturday.
“We will be looking for a much-improved effort from Deadly Pony second-up, she just got stuck in the worst of it from an inside draw last start,” Latta said.
Darci Brahma three-year-old Damiano benefitted from a gear addition over the course and distance last month to finish second.
“He was good last start with the blinkers on and wouldn’t need to improve much to go one better,” Latta said.
