‘This filly is a star’: Trainer John Thompson has Golden Slipper hopes for 2024 Gimcrack Stakes winner Bel Merci

Trainer John Thompson is usually reserved when rating his runners but he was moved to declare speedy filly Bel Merci a “star” after she blitzed her two-year-old rivals in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Jockey Chad Schofield celebrates Bel Merci’s impressive victory in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes at Royal Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Trainer John Thompson is usually reserved when rating his runners but he was moved to declare speedy filly Bel Merci a “star” after she blitzed her two-year-old rivals at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Bel Merci jumped straight to the front and was never headed as she streaked away with the Group 3 $250,000 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m).

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“She’s just a natural,” Thompson enthused. “We’d jumped her out here before the official two-year-old trial, she was six lengths in front around the home corner and won by 12 lengths.

“This filly is a star, don’t worry about that. She’s not trained up at all, that’s not me, I don’t push my two-year-olds early in the season.

“But what she showed today was on pure, natural ability. I will spell her now and then aim at the Golden Slipper.”

Thank you very much! 🙏

The fav Bel Merci by Extreme Choice wins the G3 Gimcrack Stakes with absolute ease!@aus_turf_club | @SchofieldChad | @JTRacingRwikpic.twitter.com/DED9h3RVoS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 5, 2024

• What the jockeys said: 2024 Epsom Handicap Day

Bel Merci ($3.50 favourite), ridden by Chad Schofield, was simply too fast and too good for her rivals, scoring by one-and-a-half lengths from O’Ole ($7.50) who was the winner’s immediate chaser throughout with Memo ($4.80) running on for third, a long neck away.

Schofield said Bel Merci had a “good brain on her for such a young, inexperienced” before thanking Thompson for his support and foresight.

“John’s been a great supporter of mine for a while and he said to me two months ago, ‘come and gallop a little filly, I think she’s quite smart’,” Schofield said.

“He knew how good she was and she was just prepared and trained so well for today. She was bombproof and it made my job very easy.

“I thought she’d win but it was good to see her come and do that. She’s just impressed all the way through – every gallop, every jumpout, every trial.”

"Lovely filly"

We think that sums it up pretty well, @JTRacingRwik!

Hear from John and @SchofieldChad after Bel Merci won the Gimcrack Stakes today.@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/YfWfr3ax3D

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 5, 2024

• King Kirk reigns supreme in Breeders Plate

Bel Merci, who was being eased down near the line, stopped the clock at 57.84s which compared favourably with King Kirk’s win in the Breeders Plate in 57.6s.

But while seven Breeders Plate winners have trained on to win the Golden Slipper – the most recent was Capitalist in 2016 – no Gimcrack Stakes winner has completed the coveted double.

It is worth noting that Lady Of Camelot was a beaten favourite when fourth in the Gimcrack Stakes last season but then won the Golden Slipper back in March.

Originally published as ‘This filly is a star’: Trainer John Thompson has Golden Slipper hopes for 2024 Gimcrack Stakes winner Bel Merci