A DREAM COME TRUE FOR BREEDER BEZZERA AS REGIONAL WINS GROUP 1
REGIONAL (GB) gave trainer Ed Bethell his first Group 1 victory in just his third season training when storming to victory in the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park on the 9th September.
Arriving on the back of finishing fifth on his Group 1 debut in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, Regional appeared to have his work cut out against 16 of this season’s star sprinters but held on by a neck against closest rival SHOULDVEBEENARING (GB) to the delight of Bethell and syndicate owners Future Champions Racing. The five-year-old gelding was purchased for just 3,500 guineas at the 2021 Tattersalls July HIT Sale.
The Group 1 success meant just as much to Italian breeder Isabella Bezzera, who breeds in partnership with her husband, Guido. Their mares are kept at Old Buckenham Stud near Newmarket and at Razza del Sole in their home country. Regional is by Darley's TERRITORIES who stands at Dalham Hall Stud, out of FAVULUSA (GB). The dam is by DANSILI (GB) out of a mare who has produced five black-type performers from her eight foals to hit the racecourse.
A half-sister to Regional from the first-crop of Darley stallion PALACE PIER (GB) will be offered at Tattersalls December Foal Sale.
Bezzera spoke with Great British Racing International about her Group 1 success as a breeder and explained why the win meant so much:
“For a breeder, to win such an important Group 1 in England as the Sprint Cup is a wonderful dream come true and I am really proud of this achievement. For me, it was an incredible emotion that rewarded my work over many years and has made me immensely happy.”
Bezzera expanded on her approach to breeding in Britain:
“Our breeding is partly developed in England and partly in Italy. Our mares are at Old Buckenham Stud in the UK. Some of our foals after weaning towards the end of September are sent to Razza Del Sole, our stud in Italy, while some stay in the UK. In this way, we have paddocks that are always green and not very used on both farms.”
Bezzera went on to explain the decision behind using British-based stallions for their mares:
“As demonstrated by our recent Group winners Regional by TERRITORIES, ARIA IMPORTANTE (GB) by TWILIGHT SON (GB) and CANTOCORALE (GB) by HELMET, we favour stallions standing in UK because they guarantee solidity, class and great professionalism by the stud farms that manage them.
“In particular, we work with Darley, Juddmonte, Shadwell and Cheveley Park. We also believe that for animal welfare, it is preferable for mares in foal or those with foal at the foot not to undertake long and tiring journeys.”
Discussing her long-standing ownership partnership with Newmarket-based trainer Marco Botti, Bezzera said:
“Scuderia Blueberry in Britain has an excellent relationship with Marco Botti who is very competent and professional. Marco gave us great satisfaction with trained horses like ATALIS BAY (GB), an excellent sprinter; FANCIFUL ANGEL (a winner in America and Meydan); and the fantastic EURO CHARLINE (GB) purchased by us at the February Sale for only 800 pounds and trained by Marco to the highest international levels. Given the results obtained, we consider Marco Botti an excellent trainer.”