Reinsman Michael Bellman is as understated as ever when reflecting on an incredible Group 1 drought that he finally broke early this month.
“It certainly hasn’t been handed to us, that’s for sure,” he says with a chuckle. “No one can sit back and say I haven’t earned it.”
The Ararat local snapped one of the sport’s most incredible runs without elite-level success when he scored victory with Mecarno in the Victoria Trotters Derby Final at Maryborough on November 2. The Group 1 was Bellman’s first in a career that started in 1997, and had included more than 22,000 drives and over 2000 winners.
“It felt like I had got two (Group 1 wins) in the one day,” the 44-year-old said. “Everyone works their bums off, but to get the reward and the way it was scripted – to have my first Group 1 as one that I trained – was the icing on the cake. And it was one of the heritage-listed and time-honoured events.
“I felt like it was the missing piece. Even to say you’re a good driver and a good trainer, or a good footballer or cricketer, unless you’ve got those things on your CV, any sportsperson would tell you, there’s always one box that they want to tick off, or one accomplishment or trophy they want to win.”
Now, with the monkey of nearly 30 years off his back, Bellman could be celebrating another Group 1 triumph just a few weeks after his first. He will partner Mecarno as favourite in Saturday night’s APG Vicbred Super Series Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings at Melton after a truly brilliant heat win last week.
The lightly-raced son of Tactical Landing galloped early and drifted back to last before circling the field to sit parked at the bell. He then powered clear in the straight to prevail by nearly 10m in a real statement ahead of the $60,000 showdown.
“I asked him at the top of the straight just to see what he had left, and he put 10m on them in two strides. Then I eased him down for the last 50 metres, I suppose,” Bellman said.
“You always think that they’re good, but the way that he’s doing it and the arrogance he’s doing it with, you’re starting to believe more and more in him that he is that bit more special than your average horse.”
Mecarno is raced by long-time Bellman supporters, Gary and Tracy Hull, with the horse boasting six wins from just 12 career starts.
Bellman will get more shots at Group 1 glory with Mecarno’s stablemate Rapta, and the Rebecca Morrisey-prepared Centurion Dream and Ijustcantseeit, who are all at big odds in their respective Vicbred trotting finals on Saturday night.
He also teams up with the Kerryn Manning-trained Alifetimeforliving, who lines up in the Group 2 Vicbred decider for three-year-old pacing fillies.
