Derby Contender for Royal Academy

31st May 2008

Evergreen sire Royal Academy showed his versatility when producing a Queensland Derby contender at Eagle Farm on Saturday when Bell Academy (3c Royal Academy x Bellquin, by Bellotto) ploughed through heavy conditions to take the Group Three QTC Grand Prix Stakes.

A lightly raced colt trained by Robert Heathcote, Bell Academy proved too solid over the concluding stages to capture the 2100 metre event by the best part of a length in taking his overall record to three wins and two seconds from seven starts with prizemoney just shy of $100,000.

Purchased for $40,000 after initially being passed in by Guntawang Stud at the 2006 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Bell Academy is from the stakes-placed Bellotto mare Bellquin, who won up to 2200 metres and whose next dam is by champion sire Sir Tristram.

Bell Academy is yet another stakes-winner for Royal Academy, who will serve in Australia again this spring at a fee of $27,500.