Written by Bren O'Brien
The impending father-son training partnership of Mark and Levi Kavanagh is hoping Beldivian (Vancouver) can channel some family talent of his own and develop into a progressive horse this spring after the close relative to Kavanagh's champion Maldivian (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) won impressively on debut at Bendigo on Sunday.
Beldivian, who is out of Maldivian's three-quarter sister, debuted under Mark Kavanagh's name, but is likely to also feature Levi as his trainer in the near future with approval pending for the Flemington-based father and son to combine their operation.
The 3-year-old backed up his strong recent jump-out performances to give a good kick for home under jockey Luke Currie and hold off the James Cummings-trained Vilana (Hallowed Crown), who is the half-brother to Group 1 winner Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}), by 0.8l, in the 1100-metre maiden.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Obfuscation (Holler) was in third, just 0.2l behind Vilana, while there was a big margin back to the rest of the field.
"There were a lot of horses coming into this race making their debuts and getting ready for the spring, so it was definitely good to see him win," Levi Kavanagh said.
"The stable was quite confident. He did trial very well. He was wide in his trials and either won or ran second in them. He's obviously by a good sprinter in Vancouver, but his mother has that good Savabeel and Maldivian connection. We’d think he'll be a better horse as he steps up in distance."
"The stable was quite confident. He (Beldivian) did trial very well." - Levi Kavanagh
The stable's assessment of Beldivian's potential can perhaps be gauged by the fact he featured among the nominations for the G1 Caulfield Guineas when they were taken last week.
Bred by Touchstone Farm in Western Australia, he was purchased by Mark Kavanagh at the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Rosden Park. His dam, Belavyshni (NZ) (Savabeel) is an unplaced three-quarter sister to Maldivian, putting him also in the immediate family of G2 Light Fingers S. winner Adrift (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
The obvious first comparison for the gelding is to Maldivian, who also broke his maiden in August at a country setting, in his case Ballarat, and would go on to win a trio of Group 1 races in a decorated career, highlighted by his G1 Cox Plate success in 2008.
Levi Kavanagh isn't quite ready to be drawn on that comparison yet, but like Maldivian, Beldivian looks to be a horse that will appreciate stretching out in trip.
"We'll see how he pulls up. He's a nice strong horse and we've given him plenty of time, so I would say there would be a few more runs in store for him this prep," he said.
Multiple Group 1-winning jockey Currie, who was having his first ride back since suffering a back injury at Geelong early in July, was impressed by Beldivian's debut.
"He is a nice horse and he feels like he will be better with time and out in trip a little bit. He did everything pretty right today," he said.
"He (Beldivian) is a nice horse and he feels like he will be better with time and out in trip a little bit. He did everything pretty right today." - Levi Kavanagh
Currie is hopeful the injury is now behind him, and he can target winning some good races through the spring.
"I hurt my back at Geelong a few weeks ago and I was supposed to have a week off, but it became four or five trying to get it right," he said.
"With the help of Dr Gary Zimmerman and Louise Davoren, they have got my back right. I've still got some work to do, but it's good to be back at the races."
Venting Aiming up
Later on the Bendigo card, Venting (Star Witness), a brother to R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner Aim, was another impressive debut winner in a 1400-metre maiden for trainer Danny O'Brien.
Ridden by Damian Lane, Venting quickened impressively at the top of the straight and then fought off the Price and Kent Jnr-trained Gobbled (Star Witness), to win by 1l.
O'Brien stable representative Ben Gleeson said he was a gelding that would take further improvement through his first campaign.
"We always thought he was a horse that would appreciate getting out to a mile and 2000 metres and we have taken our time with him. To see him do that on debut, we think he has got a promising future," Gleeson said.
"He could really furnish out of this race and he will certainly be a pretty impressive individual come the end of his 3-year-old autumn campaign, but we will see how far he gets this spring."
"He (Venting) could really furnish out of this race and he will certainly be a pretty impressive individual come the end of his 3-year-old autumn campaign, but we will see how far he gets this spring." - Ben Gleeson
Venting, whose grandam Bollinger (Dehere {USA}) was a Group 1 winner, was a $200,000 purchase from the B2B Thoroughbreds draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
