Bell River Thoroughbreds celebrates Gin Spirit's impressive victory in the Listed Cinderella Stakes, marking the farm's second 2yo Stakes win of the 2024/2025 season and showcasing its dedication to producing top-tier racehorses.

Bell River Thoroughbreds' "small farm, big results" slogan rang true when their homebred filly Another Prophet (Brazen Beau) defied expectations to win the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield, marking the farm's fourth top-level victory and its first from its new property.

The talented filly, co-bred and part-owned by Bell River Thoroughbreds, reversed form with her recent rival, Aeliana, to win by 0.4 lengths at odds of $31. Ethan Brown rode the filly to her second career win, following a maiden victory in May. Another Prophet is a half-sister to stakes-winners Prophet’s Thumb and More Prophets, and her triumph adds to Maher's remarkable run of Group 1 success this season.

Bell River Thoroughbreds' bold decision to race their royally bred filly, Bel Merci, rather than sell her at the 2024 Magic Millions, paid off in spectacular fashion when she claimed the prestigious Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) at Randwick. The daughter of Extreme Choice and Group 1 winner Bel Mer (Bel Esprit) produced a dominant front-running performance, securing a 1.4-length victory as the well-supported $3.50 favourite. Trained by John Thompson, Bel Merci's win not only confirmed her as a rising star but also gave Bell River another major boost, with the filly now at the top of Golden Slipper betting.

A homebred for Bell River Thoroughbreds, Bel Merci impressed with a dominant front-running performance, winning by 1.5 lengths under Chad Schofield. Trained by John Thompson, the filly’s natural talent shone through, with her victory propelling her to the top of Golden Slipper betting. Bel Merci is the 13th stakes-winner for Extreme Choice, further solidifying his status as a top sire.

Bell River Thoroughbreds' homebred Bel Merci (Extreme Choice) turned heads with a stunning all-the-way victory in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick, proving why she was an early favourite for the G1 Golden Slipper. Trainer John Thompson's unwavering confidence in the filly was echoed by James Ferguson, who noted Thompson’s rare enthusiasm from the outset. From day one, Bel Merci showed promise, with Thompson describing her as a "natural" and “a star."

Bell River Thoroughbreds' Jock Ferguson discusses the challenges and opportunities of this year's breeding season, sharing insights on navigating sire availability, and the exciting prospects they’re backing, including first-season sires like Farnan and Tassort, as well as proven stallions like Capitalist and Russian Revolution.

Known for breeding top horses like Extreme Choice, Bell River is seeing its investment in its new property pay off with a consistent and promising draft of yearlings. Their 2023 Classic draft, a blend of pedigree planning and farming expertise, includes standout lots like Vermentino, an unbeaten city winner by Extreme Choice.

Bell River Thoroughbreds, run by the Ferguson family, has earned a strong reputation for breeding quality racehorses with just a small broodmare band. Over the past 10 years, they've produced 20 stakes winners, including Group 1 winners Extreme Choice, Ace High, and I Am Excited. With an average spend of $133,000 on their mares, their focus on quality over quantity has led to consistent success, including Group 3 winner More Prophets and Set To Skelter, whose foals have also won stakes races.