Trainer Jay Bellamy keen to build on positive results

By Jordan Gerrans

Jay Bellamy is in the midst of the strongest season yet of his thoroughbred training tenure and the young conditioner is optimistic he has finally found a winnable race for his unlucky Five Star Vixen.

Born-and-bred on the Gold Coast, Bellamy has made the switch to the gallopers over the last five years after originally cutting his teeth in the harness code as a trainer, driver and breeder.

Still with many months left in the 2023-24 season, the Aquis Park-based horseman has already posted his best campaign yet for winners. 

Before the current term, Bellamy had trained seven winners in two of his first three seasons and already has eight victories to his name so far this campaign.

The 39-year-old is proud of the way his team of horses is performing and is eager to build on it in the coming years.

“I just wanted to be able to train the horses for a full-time job and I have already succeeded in that, which I thought it would take me a lot longer than it did,” he said.

“This year, I have got off to a really good start and I am really happy with where I am at the moment. Hopefully I can pick up a few more owners and continue to build the stable out.”

Bellamy has 13 gallopers on the books - with nine in work – and is keen to get to around 20 as his barn builds.

Bellamy drove in Group 1 events in the harness code as well as representing Queensland at the 2008 Australasian Young Drivers Championship, among other achievements.

He heads north to Caloundra on Friday evening for a leg of the rich 100's and 1000's race series.

The series features seven $100,000 events over 1000 metres scheduled over Friday night meetings with this week’s race for the maiden gallopers.

Five Star Vixen went around in another high-profile maiden race at her last start and Bellamy says punters should just forget she even went around.

The young filly mustered speed early in the piece at the Gold Coast in her most recent start to sit with the leading pack for the majority of the 1100 metre trip.

The daughter of Headwater weakened late and did not finish in front of another runner.

In her five runs before the rich $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate earlier this month, Five Star Vixen was regularly competitive in city races and appeared to be close to knocking off her first victory.

She trialled strongly in the lead-up to the Magic Millions Maiden Plate.

“I would just put a pen through last start,” the up-and-coming trainer said.

“I put blinkers on her for the first time – she has had them on for track work and she was fine with them – on race day and in the parade ring I could see it was the wrong call as she was fired right up and was not herself.

“Of course she got out on the track and they went record course time and she was pulling her head off up in fourth going so fast, they just cannot do that. It was a gut-busting run.”

Initially Bellamy was not going to nominate Five Star Vixen for her second-up assignment but she ate up well following the Gold Coast run and has done well ever since.

He is keen to see her ridden with a sit on Friday evening from barrier ten.

Five Star Vixen will be partnered by well-travelled international hoop Elione Chaves who has recently returned to Australia to continue his riding.

She was rolled by 2023 Magic Millions champion Skirt The Law in her first trial – which cost her a chance to run in The Debut last year – before running into the impressive Party For Two not long after.

“She is a little professional,” he said.

“Since I have had her, she has done everything perfect.

“She has all the ability in the world but she is an unlucky horse, she keeps running into good horses.

"She has the ability to win this race on Friday.”

The 100's and 1000's race has again attracted a strong field with a capacity 16 set to face the starter with a glut of emergencies hoping to get a run as well.

There are three more 100's and 1000's races at Caloundra following Friday night before the series comes to a close in early March.

“It is a great initiative and the club have handled it well, as well,” Bellamy said.

“They put on a good night up there as I have been to a couple up there.”

The former harness man travelled to Ipswich with two chances on Thursday afternoon with both ridden by his stable apprentice Jai Williams.