The John O'Brien trained four-year-old filly Bella Riva, was the heroine of the National Flour Mills (NFM) Day at the Races on Saturday.
The Poon Tip Stud Farm owned filly was brought with a well-timed run to catch and beat the overwhelming favourite and hattrick-seeking General JN, in the feature Grade Three - NFM Champagne Stakes over 1,600 metres on the turf course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.
Despite his top-weight, the Glenn Mendez trained six-year-old horse General JN was backed as though defeat was out of the question and looked set to prevail when poaching a six-length lead approaching the final 300m. But Brian Boodramsing and Bella Riva would not accept this and the pair quickened up impressively in the final 200m to overhaul the fighting General JN.
Punters who backed Bella Riva off at odds of 7/2 were all smiles. The 'Triple Crown' hero of 2020 Wise Guy, was third in the event.
Bella Riva and Boodramsing were a cosy 1 1/4 length winner of the feature, where champion O'Brien saddled the winner, third and fourth-placed finishers.
The leading rider on National Flour Mills Day at the Races was Sven Balroop who rode two winners on the seven-race card. He was in the winner's enclosure with La Reine for trainer Mendez in the fourth and followed up in the following event with Princess Alex for trainer Terrence Thomas.
No trainer was able to saddle two winners on the card.
Here are the reflections for NFM Day at the Races.
NFM DAY AT THE RACES REFLECTIONS
R1: Perfect Saint - Behind early, headway going to far turn and travelling well, challenged for the lead 500m out, drew clear easily from corner. Will win again.
Con Te Partiro - Close up and chasing leaders, every chance corner, stayed on.
Gold For John - Mid-division early, every chance corner, stayed on late.
Lord Melody - In touch and chasing the leaders early, held every chance 500m out, one-paced.
R2: Patta Patta - Made all easily. Will improve further.
Stroke Of Luck - Midfield early, effort to close and ridden along 500m out, rallied final 200m, stayed on.
Prince Connor - Chased the ready winner for 800m, one paced final 200m.
Tequilla Sonrise- Close up and chasing leaders on inside, every chance corner, unable to quicken.
R3: Desert Dancer - In touch and tracked leaders, close quickly approaching far turn, led 500m out, stayed on well final 200m.
Leonardo Angel - In touch and led early, tracked leader and every chance corner, ran on well.
Sunset Cloud - Midfield early, effort to close far turn. Ridden along corner unable to quicken final 200m.
News Flash - Behind early, ridden to close far turn, every chance corner, stayed on.
Chinta - Close up and led after 400m, clear going down the back-straight, every chance 500m out, weakened.
R4: La Reine - Close up and battling for lead, every chance 500m out, rallied and ran on well final 200m for good win.
Passionate - Close up until led and going well. Challenged down back-straight for lead, went on far turn and every chance corner ran on well.
CP Jet - In touch and rail and going well, ridden to challenge 300m out, hampered final 100m, unfortunate.
Unsettled - Mid-division early, headway far turn, every chance corner one-pace
Marconi - Led early, tracked pace, every chance corner, unable to quicken final 200m.
R5: Princess Alex - Behind, improved far turn, every chance corner ran on strongly final 200m for good win.
Uno Mas - Mid-division, a going well, improved position 600m out, brought to challenge 400m out led shortly after, stayed on well.
The Big Saint - In touch and going well, close far turn, every chance corner, ran on well.
Why Kapalua - Mid-division , effort to close 500m out, every chance final 200m, stayed on.
Unsettled Heart - Led and going well, every chance when challenged 400m out, stayed on. Will win soon.
R6: Bella Riva - Tracked leaders and going well, effort to close 600m out, ridden to challenge 300m out, ran on well for comfortable success. Will win again.
General JN - Tracked leader until lead far turn, quickened away stylishly with 500m left to race, ran on well, unable to hold the winner's challenge.
Wise Guy - Behind, closed at far turn, effort and ridden 400m out, stayed on without troubling principals.
Cool Cat - Behind, effort to close far turn, ridden and stayed on well final 300m. Will win soon
Early Bird - Led for 100m until weakened corner.
R7: Fortune Teller - Mid-division early, improved position far turn, challenged on outside 400m out and ran on well.
Commandante - Close up and going well, ridden to challenge 500m out, led 300m out, ran on well.
The Spokesman - In touch and going well, challenge 600m out and every chance corner, stayed on.
Lady Hamilton - Disputed leader early, clear leader far turn, went two length ahead at corner, one paced final 100m.
El Chapo - Close up and challenging early, lost position 600m out, every chance corner, ran on.
Golazo - In touch early, lost place far turn unable to quicken final 300m.