Update in the Belhus Stables

Girl In a Storm kicks us off at Pinjarra this Saturday when the normal city meeting at Ascot is replaced by this provincial meeting as a one off. She'll go down the straight 1000m in a class 4 event which looks tailor made for her. She's drawn barrier 1 which is actually like the outside draw as in most of these races, the majority of the runners (and hence the majority of the winners) come down the Grandstand side of the track.

William Pike who currently leads the WA jockeys premiership will again take the ride, and following her very good first up effort when second at Ascot recently, and bearing in mind she's won over the course (track and distance) previously, Girl In A Storm should prove hard to beat.

Mexican Mist also runs second up at Pinjarra on Saturday. He's been entered in the feature event, the $30,000 Mandurah Cup over 1600m, and he's also drawn barrier one! Trainer Paul Jordan has the galloping grey looking in first class order, and Mexican Mist disposed of 1000m in even time at Ascot this morning on his ear, (as you'd expect). He should get a nice run tucked away off the pace in this event and with a clear passage in the straight should be very hard to hold out. Regular rider Troy Turner again jumps in the saddle.

Baron Orczy is a last start city winner who will drop back to 1200m for his next assignment, a 3MW (Metro Wins) special conditions event at Ascot on Perth Cup Day. The race is no stronger than the one he won last time out and once again, the marbles have fell for us having come up with barrier one again! He should get the run of the race in this and once again be hard to beat. I can't see any reason to split a winning combination, so jockey Paul King has retained the ride.

Encipher impressed when he showed a return to form by finishing third at Ascot last time out, and he gets his chance to break through for his first win when he steps out on Cup Day in a 1400m special conditions hcp. Trainer Trevor Andrews is very happy with him, and hasn't felt the need to do a great deal with him since he last raced. He'll give him a bit of evens to top him off tomorrow morning, and he'll look magnificent for the HUGE CROWD who'll be at Ascot on Monday. Shaun O'Donnell will ride and the pair should be hard to beat from barrier 7.

At the trials and Zabrinski makes his reappearance at the Randwick on Friday. Trainer Gai Waterhouse has given him plenty of work in preparation for this campaign and she's very happy with his recent gallops. It's only a 740m trial, and there's no doubt that he'll be better suited by an extra furlong or two down the line... Our pint sized Royal Academy filly With Honours is progressing in fine style for trainer Paul Jordan and he'll be taking her to the trials at Lark Hill this coming Tuesday, NOT Belmont on the 8th as previously mentioned to owners. She flew at the track this morning with Troy Turner in the saddle, going evens from the 1000m and a working gallop up the straight. Troy kept her going up the hill and she looked very impressive with that daisy cutting action of hers. This should be a profitable campaign for her and she appeals as the galloper in our stable that can win for punters at decent odds.

Of the others in work, Open Eyre worked well this morning. He'll be entered in a provincial maiden at either Bunbury or Pinjarra early next month for his next start. Harrasser is just one good gallop away from a race. He'll do a little bit tomorrow morning and then have a solid hit out on Tuesday morning which will have him just about ready to go to the races. The Black Flash is a fortnight from a race. He's been off the scene for a long time now but new trainer Ken Williamson has him looking a picture with his coat the glossiest it's been since he last raced. The black son of Don't Say Halo is thriving on plenty on beach work and he'll have a gallop on the main grass at Belmont on Saturday morning before trialling on January 8th. My Charvae is another black horse that's looking and going well. He's been jogging up at Ascot for Brendon Fitz-Gerald for three weeks now and trainer Trevor Andrews will pick him up after Fridays trackwork and start to increase his paces. Kingston Classic is a couple of gallops away from a return to racing. New trainer Steve Wolfe has him looking in excellent order at his Albany stables, and Steve has some very encouraging words to say about him. He'll race on either the 9th or 16th January.

Orlavista is our new horse in Victoria and this is the one we're taking a bit of a punt with in the hope that we can improve him. Anthony Cosgriff is training him from his stables located right next to Ballarat racecourse. The horse is all sold bar the last share now, and Anthony says he's only a fortnight from making his race debut for us. He'll start to wind him up now and have him ready for mid January. Also in Victoria are Magnetic Bay and Red Geisha who are both in work with Dale Sutton at Tylden. Both are just going steady for the moment as their campaigns re commence after spelling. Make Some Noise has done plenty of legwork in his pre training in rural NSW and is booked to go to trainer Guy Walters stables next Tuesday.

Kilindini went to the track this morning and did two slow laps. He looks a ZILLION DOLLARS, is educated perfectly and if he can't run I'll go and get a job on the roads!Likewise Arranbrae. I've never handled a nicer horse. He'll make into the most magnificent stallion-all we need to do is get him to the races! If we can get black type success with him he's a million dollar plus horse. He's had a few leg problems and he's no certainty to make it, but we're all doing our best. He started work this morning after a lengthy break due to an infected fetlock...Verdanna also started work this morning. He'll have a month at the pre trainers working on his tractability more than anything else. He can then go to the Ascot stables of John Price. John also has Tiger O'Reilly on his books and although still in the paddock, Tiger has started treadmill work today. He'll do this for 10 days or so as we test out his heel that he injured a while ago. All being well, he'll be back into Ascot the weekend after next. There are a few others that are coming along slowly but surely through the process. All are well. The spellers are well.

We have two at the breakers. The Akhenaton 2yo is just about all done and nicely educated now. He goes good. The KEY BUSINESS filly is being mouthed right now-just applying the steering and brakes, and is just a few days from being ridden for the first time...The new Diatribe colt goes to the breakers next week.