Breeders' Cup Champion Belvoir Bay (GB) Sells for $1,500,000
Belvoir Bay (GB), a Breeders' Cup Champion in 2019, sold for $1,500,000 at The November Sale. The six-year-old bay mare was purchased by Mike Shannon, agent from the consignment of Bluewater Sales, agent. She was offered as Hip 96.
In her most recent start, Belvoir Bay set a track record in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1), running the 5f in a scorching 54.83 while defeating a 11 male opponents, including favored Pure Sensation and two-time defending champion Stormy Liberal.
Belvoir Bay began her career at two in her native England, where she won twice. She shipped to the United States in the fall of her juvenile season to win with the Blue Northern S. at Santa Anita. At three, she conquered the Torrey Pines S. (G3) on the dirt at Del Mar, then switched back to the turf to win the Unzip Me S. at Santa Anita. At four, she added the Senator Ken Maddy S. (G3) on turf, then reeled off three consecutive wins in the Mizdirection S., San Simeon S. (G3), and Monrovia S. (G2) at five.
Belvoir Bay kicked off her six-year-old campaign with wins in the Las Cinegas S and the Wishing Well S. She shipped to the United Arab Emirates to contest the Al Quoz Sprint S. (G1) over the Meydan turf as part of the Dubai World Cup Festival, where she finished second after running with the vanguard throughout.
The hard-knocking mare raced 28 times all told, with 12 wins, six seconds, and two thirds, and earned a total of $1,699,787. She was bred in Great Britain by Mrs R. D. Peacock. She was campaigned by owners Team Valor International and Gary Barber in the U.S. through the end of 2018, and by Barber in 2019. Peter Miller has trained the Breeders' Cup champion since her third U.S. start in 2016.
Belvoir Bay is out of the winning Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) mare Path of Peace, a half-sister to English Group 2 winner Please Sing. She is from the immediate family of French champion Bold Arrangement (GB).