What makes that Catterick win worth noting is the track itself. Catterick Bridge is a tight, turning circuit in North Yorkshire that tends to suit horses who are nimble and well-handled rather than simply the most powerful in the field. Getting a first win there suggests Battenburg Belle has a bit of racecraft about her, not just raw ability.
She is trained by Rebecca Menzies, whose yard sits just outside Durham and has been in fine form this season — 36 winners sent out already, which is a healthy tally and a sign that horses are arriving at the races ready to run. The most regular jockey partnership has been with Andrew Mullen, who has ridden her five times without a win between them, so it is worth watching whether that combination clicks now that confidence is flowing, or whether the Catterick victory came with a different arrangement in the saddle.
At three years old and with momentum building, Battenburg Belle is exactly the kind of horse that can be tricky to catch at the right moment — she has been knocking on the door for a while, and now she knows how to open it.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 20 Jan | 0% |
| Catterick Bridge Sharp |
2 | 1 win, 1 second | 22 Jun | 50% |
| Redcar Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 7 May | 0% |
| Ripon Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 17 May | 0% |
| Pontefract Undulating |
1 | 1 third | 7 Apr | 0% |
| Carlisle Undulating |
1 | 1 second | 8 Jun | 0% |
| Beverley Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 4 Jul | 0% |