Deserved stakes success for remarkable Mehmas mare Bellarchi

Another day, another stakes winner for Mehmas! The remarkable mare Bellarchi, making her 48th start, gained a deserved stakes breakthrough on Saturday when charging to victory in the Listed Queen Charlotte Stakes at Chester.

The mare's success continues a great run for Mehmas, also responsible for this week's stakes winners Botagoz (winner of the Group 3 Hoppings Stakes) and Estepona (winner of the Listed Prix Hampton).

Held up by Joanna Mason, Bellarchi put in a thundering run down the outside to win a shade cosily from Dash Of Azure. The Kodiac mare Circe ran a fine race in third.

Thus Bellarchi's remarkable record now reads 13 wins in 48 starts for owners Nick Bradley Racing 19 and Partner.

"She's in great form," said Joanna Mason. "Credit to the team and Oli Stammers, who rides her most of the time and had to be at York. It's all his hard work. He told me she's straightforward. I couldn't go quick enough early so I took my time and she's picked up in the home straight and really battled it out."

The 52nd stakes winner for Mehmas, Bellarchi was bred by Con Marnane out of Drop Dead Gorgeous, a winning daughter of Sepoy.