It was an exciting finish to the first Group 1 of the day in Sydney on Saturday with the well-backed Mark Walker-trained filly Belle Cheval saluting for the punters by a whisker in the Vinery Stud Stakes 2026 results at Rosehill.

The opening elite level on the Tancred Stakes Day card, the Group 1 $750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) resulted in a photo-thriller with Kiwi raider Belle Cheval ($2.60F) holding on to narrowly deny After Summer victory in the Australian Oaks lead-up.

In her first Australian assignment, Walker’s progressive daughter of Savabeel survived a protest by the runner-up to hold onto her Group 1 trophy having gone one better than her close second last time out across the Tasman in The Kiwi (1500m).

This time the tight result went her way, much to the relief of Walker.

“It was the NZB Kiwi photo all over again,” he told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-win.

“She just ran around a bit, but it was great for the filly. (Breeders and co-owners) David (Archer) and Diane (Wright), and the team at home in New Zealand prepared her really well.

“Everyone has been working hard in Melbourne and New Zealand.

“We had a Group 1 at home today and a Group 1 here, so it’s a very special day.

“I actually thought we got beaten, whereas I’d thought we’d won the NZB Kiwi. I was glad to see the photo.”

Ridden to victory by the airborne Zac Lloyd, Belle Cheval was on pace sitting second on the turn for home as the triple-figure, rank outsider Stand My Ground, led the Vinery field around.

The eventual winner wandered under pressure inside the final furlong shifting out before fighting hard and holding on to win by the barest of margins.

“Obviously she was stepping up to 2000 but the race panned out beautifully, they didn’t go an overly strong gallop which I didn’t want for her,” Lloyd said.

“She quickened very well and I’m very surprised to see the horse I pushed out at the top of the straight (After Summer – 2nd) come back and nearly beat me because she quickened very well away from it.

“She showed a bit of fight, normally she’s known for her dazzling turn of foot whereas today she built and showed a bit of fight.

“She’s a good mare and it was a tenacious win by her.”

After Summer, ridden by Billy Egan, ran second and Egan’s post-race protest against Belle Cheval and Lloyd was dismissed.

Salty Pearl rounded out the trifecta in third.

Walker confirmed plans for Belle Cheval to now head to the paddock for a deserved rest with connections opting to bypass the Australian Oaks at Randwick on April 11.

“She is just a magic filly,” Walker said.

“She can have a nice break now and we’ll look forward to the spring.

“No Oaks for her. She gets a rest.”

Instead, the filly will be brought back for a big spring campaign that could include a shot at the $10 million Golden Eagle.

“We’ll let the dust settle and have a chat with (the owners) and work it out from there,” Walker added.

The now Chris Waller-trained NZ Oaks Ohope Wins, who ran fourth in today’s Vinery Stud Stakes results under a length beaten, currently heads all-in Australian Oaks 2026 betting at $3 through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Today’s luckless Vinery runner-up, After Summer, meanwhile has been crunched in from $15 to $6 to win the Oaks during next month’s The Championships.

“Super run heading towards an Oaks,” her jockey, Egan, said of After Summer’s Vinery performance.

2026 Australian Oaks Odds

2026 Vinery Stud Stakes Results

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