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Belmont Classic to Baronova
Widden Victoria-based Fiorente (Monsun) recorded his seventh stakes winner when Baronova (3 f ex Twinkle Toes by Danehill) won the Belmont Classic (Listed, 2200m) on Saturday.
Having his 14th career start and winning for the fourth time, the Justin Warwick-trained Baronova came from last and scored a last stride victory, beating Truly Reliable (Reliable Man) by a nose, with the same distance back to Chili Is Hot (Gingerbread Man) in third.
Warwick, who will be having a break from training, gave credit to winning jockey William Pike and said that Baronova would now head to the east coast and would, in time, likely see out 3200 metres.
"I'll be honest, even at the 150 metres, 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," he said.
"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."
Bred and raced by the Vam Heemst's Lynward Park Stud Baronova is one of five winners and the second stakes winner, I'm Feeling Lucky (Bletchley Park) the first, out of the unraced Danehill (Danzig) mare Twinkle Toe who was bought as a foal for 180,000gns by Demi O'Bryne at the 2004 Tattersalls December Foal Sale. She was later bought for $72,500 at the 2008 Inglis Sydney Broodmare Sale by John Chalmers Bloodstock.
Baronova's second dam is Band Of Angels (Alzao), grandam of Group Three winner Awesome Planet (Giant's Causeway) who in turn produced Emirates Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Awesome Rock (Fastnet Rock).
Fiorente's 2021 fee is advertised at $11,000 (inc GST).