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Belle Cheval to test herself in 2026 Vinery Stud Stakes

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Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker has marvelled at the New Zealand exploits of rising filly Ohope Wins this year, though he refuses to surrender this Saturday’s $750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes without competition.

He’ll unleash Belle Cheval in the Rosehill Group 1 showdown over 2000 metres.

Sired by Savabeel, the filly advances beyond her 1500m placing behind Well Written in The Kiwi for her debut at the two-mile trip, and Walker rates Ohope Wins highly but welcomes the confrontation after her drop from the New Zealand Oaks distance.

“We know that horse really well from New Zealand and they are coming back from 2400 to 2000, I’d rather be probably going 1500 to 2000,” Walker said.

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“But she has got very good New Zealand form, that’s for sure.

“You don’t know until you go to Australia how the New Zealand form is going to measure up, but Belle Cheval’s run in The NZB Kiwi was really good.

“She is at 2000 metres first time, but she’s by Savabeel and most of them get that sort of distance.

“You don’t know until you try but at least as a three-year-old she should be able to manage it.”

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The Vinery Stud Stakes has drawn 15 entries, featuring Belle Cheval alongside Ohope Wins, who moved to Chris Waller after prevailing in the Oaks for Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott.

Rosehill hosts two Group 1s Saturday, with the $1.5m Tancred Stakes (2400m) boasting 16 runners like Dubai Honour, Aeliana, Sir Delius, Vauban and Group 1 import Barnavara.

Now on her seventh appearance, Belle Cheval was third in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last spring, took Group 3 spoils at 1200m and 1400m, and was denied in a thrilling bobble in The Kiwi.

This will cap Belle Cheval’s current preparation, yet more Australian action awaits her this campaign year.

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“She just has the one run then goes down to our Melbourne stable for three or four days and then we’ll send out her out for a spell,” Walker, who has an Australian base at Cranbourne, said.

“She’ll spell down on the Mornington Peninsula and then we’ll have back for spring racing in Melbourne.”

Early spring Group 1 aims for Belle Cheval in Melbourne include the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and Toorak Handicap (1600m), according to Walker.

Discover the finest betting sites offering racing odds for the Vinery Stud Stakes.

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Tondela vs Gil Vicente Prediction and Betting Tips

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Tondela and Gil Vicente bring round 29 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga to an end when they square off at the Estadio Joao Cardoso on Monday. Both sides head into the game off the back of contrasting results, with the Gilistas claiming a comfortable home victory over AVS.

Tondela dropped three more points at the wrong end of the Primeira Liga standings last time out when they suffered a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes.

With that result, Goncalo Feio’s men have failed to win 10 of their most recent 11 matches, losing five and picking up five draws since kicking off the year with a 3-1 victory over Arouca on January 3.

Having gained promotion from the second tier last season to end a three-year absence from the top flight, Tondela find themselves in the fight to avoid relegation, as they sit 17th in the Primeira Liga table with just 20 points from 27 games, five points away from safety.

Meanwhile, Gil Vicente cruised to a 3-0 victory over bottom-dwellers AVS at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos last time out to rekindle hopes of securing European qualification.

The Gilistas had failed to win their previous five matches, losing three and picking up two draws while conceding 10 goals and scoring six across the five matches.

Gil Vicente have picked up 45 points from their 28 Primeira Liga matches so far to sit sixth in the standings, seven points behind fourth-placed Braga in the UEFA Conference League qualifying spot heading into the final six games.

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Tondela vs Gil Vicente Head-To-Head and Key Numbers

  • Gil Vicente hold the upper hand in the history of this fixture, having won five of the last nine meetings between the two teams.
  • Tondela have picked up two wins in that time, while the spoils have been shared on two occasions.
  • Gil Vicente have won just one of their most recent nine away matches, while losing three and claiming five draws since the start of November.
  • Tondela are on a run of six consecutive home games without a win, losing twice and claiming four draws since January’s 3-1 victory over Arouca.

Tondela vs Gil Vicente Prediction

Buoyed by their win over AVS, Gil Vicente will look to put together solid late-season form as they eye the Conference League ticket.

The Gilistas are up against a floundering Tondela side who have struggled to impose themselves in the big leagues, and we are backing them to come away with all three points.

Prediction: Tondela 0-2 Gil Vicente


Tondela vs Gil Vicente Betting Tips

Tip 1: Result – Gil Vicente to win

Tip 2: Over 2.5 goals – No (There have been fewer than three goals scored in five of the last seven meetings between the two teams)

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Tip 3: Over 4.5 cards – No (There have also been fewer than five cards issued in five of their last six clashes)