Whether or not Belle du Jour ever wins another race (and history would say, as a Golden Slipper winner, that the odds are stacked against her), her win in the 2000 Golden Slipper will go down as one of the most memorable, and possibly one of the best performances to ever win this Group 1 event. This will be due to two things. First, she recorded the most incredible wins in Slipper history after rearing at the start of the race, almost dislodging her jockey (Lenny Beasley), and coming out a clear 4 lengths last behind the field. Beasley managed to weave an unchequered run through the field, and she powered home to defeat Crowned Clory and Assertive Lad. That performance was just the start however. Her part owner, John "Singo" Singleton had promised free beer for an hour in the public bars if his filly won. He was true to his word, except that the beer remained on until stumps, and the crowd took him to heart in amazing scenes. Former Prime Minister Bog Hawke, who was given a 25% share in the filly by Singo as a 70th birthday present, added to the mounting yard antics, as did the very likeable Clarry Conners, who capped the performance off by spraying the owners with champagne.
Belle du Jour started next in the AJC Sires Produce Stakes, but although battling gamely until about the 200m mark, she clearly showed she'd had enough and faded to finish at the rear of the field, behind the very good colt Assertive Lad, who is probably favourite to win 2yo of the year. She is by the American bred horse Dehere, who stood at Coolmore for a couple of seasons before he was sold to Japan fairly recently. Belle du Jour is his first Group 1 winner.
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