Racehorse TALK

Group One winning mare Bel Mer has been retired following her disappointing performance at Caulfield last Saturday.
Trainer Mick Price notified Racing Victoria stewards of his intention to do so earlier in the week.

Resuming with a fifth in the $125,000 Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last month, Bel Mer performed well below expectations on Saturday, finishing thirteenth in the $100,000 Listed Clamms Seafood Stakes (1100m) at the same venue.

That poor run signalled to connections that any ambitions of claiming a second Group 1 win for the year in the $500,000 Manikato Stakes (1200m), at Moonee Valley later this month, were faint at best.

Earlier this year, Bel Mer won her first Group 1 in the $300,000 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.

Bel Mer retires with four wins and seven placings to her name from a 19 start career, accumulating in excess of $580,000 in prizemoney.

Her three other wins were at Listed level however she was placed in stakes company on several occasions.

© Cyberhorse 2009 Carl Di Iorio Published 04/09/09