Equiano’s Queen of Speed Belvoir Bay wins Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

03/11/2019

Equiano’s ‘Queen of Speed’ Belvoir Bay made all to win the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, in the fastest time ever obliterating the course record.

This super-tough and talented mare was landing an incredible ninth Graded/Stakes race, having also won the Gr.2 Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita and four Gr.3 races for trainer Peter Miller and owner Gary Barber.  She was also second to Blue Point in the Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint this year.

Trainer Peter Miller said: “When we made the lead like that I didn’t look at the fractions because I know this filly, she’s tough as nails.  She’s 900 pounds soaking wet, and it’s all heart. She’s unbelievable.”

Owner Gary Barber said: “Javier Castellano rode a brilliant race.  He got over, got to the fence.  Once she got to the fence on the lead, she’s done that three times before, and I know that at five furlongs, it would be tough to catch her.  It was a tremendous feeling for my whole family.  So I’m thrilled and couldn’t be happier.”

Belvoir Bay is yet another consistent, tough and high-class sprinter for her sire Equiano.  She was bred by the late Lennie Peacock of Manor House Stud and sold for 20,000gns at Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 to Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock. 

After a winning two-year-old career in GB she went to USA and soon followed up with a Listed victory that same year. Her incredible success since has even more significance as she was one of the horses affected by the devastating San Luis Rey fire two years ago when she was ‘lost’ for a few days.

Trainer Peter Miller said: “It was harrowing, we couldn’t find her.  She was injured and had some burns and needed to be at the clinic for three weeks. And so that’s part of the emotion with her.  She’s just special.”

Belvoir Bay is out of the winner Path of Peace (Rock of Gibraltar), a half-sister to the Gr.2 Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Please Sing (Royal Applause) from the family of triple Gr.1 winning sprinter Redkirk Warrior.