Highlighting her ability early on with a win, second and a fourth at G2 level from her first three starts, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro produced an outstanding effort to come from back in the field before pulling clear to win the $125,000 Listed WATC Belmont Oaks (2000m) for Grant and Alana Williams, becoming the tenth stakes performer for her sire.
Having her first start at the Belmont track three back when not all went to plan in the run, but jockey William Pike weaved through the field to secure the victory, Ladies Pro stepped up to the 1600m of the Listed Belmont Guineas where she finished fifth.
Tackling 2000m for the first time on Saturday, many felt it was a race in two with Ladies Pro sent off the favourite, narrowly ahead of Extreme Choice filly Like Clockwork, who had finished narrowly ahead of Ladies Pro in the Guineas.
Of the remaining 11 runners in the field, none were under double figure odds, suggesting the top two in the market should prove hard to beat.
From barrier nine, Ladies Prio settled with four behind her while her main danger settled in sixth position, just a few lengths ahead while the Belmont Guineas eighth placed A Summer Fling took up the running.
With the race being run at a moderate tempo, Ladies Pro was going to find it tricky to make up the required ground, but as the field approached the home turn, Pike came towards the outside as the runs started to unfold.
The widest entering the home straight, Ladies Pro was still three lengths off the leader A Summer Fling, while Like Clockwork was also presenting to make a run.
Charging past the second favourite in a matter of strides, Ladies Pro reeled in the leading division and simply pulled away from the rest of the field for a facile victory, almost three lengths clear of Pony Up who had improved after being beaten over seven lengths in the Guineas.
Narrowly in third was race leader A Summer Fling, just ahead of Think Pink Daze while second favourite Like Clockwork was beaten over seven lengths, finishing seventh.
Having won seven previous editions of the Belmont Oaks, jockey William Pike felt the pace of the race may have worked against Ladies Pro, but her attitude and class was enough to see her take the prize.
"We had a nice enough run, but I thought we were going at a pretty moderate tempo,” said Pike. “Then, when the sprint went on, I didn’t think we’d be able to maintain the sprint for as long as we did.
“I’d say I think she relaxes so well it gives her the chance to sprint like that. Off a slow tempo that was a very nice effort.
“You don’t really have to be a stayer to be competitive here. She’s got the right attitude. She is prepped by the right trainers.”
Becoming the second stakes winner for her G1 Rosehill Guineas winning sire, Ladies Pro took her overall record to four wins and a second from eight starts with earnings of $207,185, and with the Listed Belmont Classic (2200m) run on July 18, the filly could add further gloss to her record if connections decide to take on the boys.
Speaking to Joss Daly at Bowness Stud, she highlighted that when her parents John and Helen North were looking to transiting into retirement, herself and husband James were looking to secure some nice young mares for the farm to kicking off their own breeding program.
“Il Professionale was our first purchase, we loved that she’s by Pierro (a very good cross for D’Argento), out of a Danehill mare, the mare had won a couple of races herself and was just a lovely type of mare,” enthused Daly.
“Ladies Pro was her first foal and always looked neat and light on her feet.”
She was selected for their Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale draft and they “were thrilled when Suman Hedge secured her for leading Western Australian trainers Grant and Alana Williams.”
“We’ve been closely watching Ladies Pro from day one and wish to congratulate Williams Racing and the team and how well she’s been educated and managed, she has an exciting future and couldn’t be prouder of her now that she’s a stakes winner.”
Bred by Bowness Stud, Ladies Pro is the first runner, winner and now stakes winner out of the two-time winning Pierro mare Il Professionale who comes from the family of G1 winners Universal Prince, Universal Queen and Krone, as well as So You Think’s multiple elite level winner and $8.4m earner Think It Over, clearly highlighting that the cross works within the family.
Ladies Pro was an astute purchase by Williams Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $45,000 from the draft of Bowness Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale.
Bowness Stud offered the second foal out of the mare at the 2025 Magic Millions National yearling sale with the colt by Newhaven Park’s Cool Aza Beel selling for $45,000 before realising $210,000 at the NZB Ready To Run Sale.
Il Professionale’s current yearling by Profiteer sold earlier this year to Wilson Racing at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale while the mare is due to foal in the Spring to D’Argento before heading back to be covered by the grey stallion once again.
One of ten stakes performers for her sire headed by the Listed-winning, G1 SAJC South Australian Derby runner-up Statuario, D’Argento will stand for $16,500 (inc. GST) at Bowness Stud.
