First winner by Proart

Sunday, 19 April 2015 - Glitterbell had been knocking on the door before bolting in at Ascot on Saturday.

The Proart filly was placed in 4 of her 5 starts prior to landing the first win for her sire in the Bell Vista Plate (1200m). “She didn’t finish the race off two runs ago and couldn’t get through last time,” owner-trainer Mike Santich said. “She’s still green and her ideal distance will be 1400m.”

Santich will wait to see how she pulls up from the four-length victory before deciding whether to nominate for another $80,000 Westspeed bonus event at Belmont next month.

Glitterbell (2f Proart – Terevega by Laranto) was bred by Korilya Stud’s Ellie Giles and is a half-sister to four winners including Perth stakes performer Gloravega (Honour And Glory). Their dam Terevega was a LR Ascot Stakes and LR Gimcrack Stakes winner and she has a yearling colt and a colt on the ground by War Chant.

Proart was based at Korilya Stud before transferring to Geisel Park Stud last year. A brilliant Belmont juvenile winner, he trained on for further victories in the G3 Scahill Stakes and LR Bunbury Stakes.

Danehill shuttler Rock Of Gibraltar sired him from 1994 WA Derby and WA Oaks winner Beaux Art (Nomrood) who transferred east for Group 1 placings in the Caulfield Cup and Sydney Cup.

Geisel Park Stud owner Eddie Rigg stands Proart in conjunction with Rapid Equine’s Neil Irvine.