Tattersall’s Gold Cup Day Racing Preview: Friday 19th June 2026

Jay Bellamy heads to Rocky for his first Tatt’s Gold Cup Day

The Bellamy family name has been big in harness racing for decades but now trainer Jay Bellamy is making a bold statement in thoroughbred racing.

The Beaudesert trainer will have as many as five horses in tow when he makes his way to Rockhampton on Friday for the RJC’s Ten-Race Tattersall’s Gold Cup race day at Callaghan Park.

“I’ve accepted with five of the team, and subject to what happens with a race at the Gold Coast, there will be four of five racing in Rocky on Friday,” he said.

Jay Bellamy was born into racing, and it was odds on that he would be a top horseman. His dad is Carl Bellamy and mum Angela Burke. Both were professional trainers and drivers in harness racing.

Before he could drive a car, Jay was driving horses.  “I didn’t get to finish year 10 at school before I started driving trotters in races,” Jay said.

“With no licence I used to catch a train up to Rocklea every Saturday to drive in races and it just went on from there.”

His harness racing career took off quickly with over 500 winners and representative honours in the Queensland Junior Drivers Championships.

“And then I got into the training side of things and it just snow-balled from there.”

About five or so years ago, Jay decided to switch to the gallopers, and with 10 winners and 24 placegetters from his last 80 or so starters, he’s having plenty of success.

“I still love my trotters but there’s something special about thoroughbreds,” he said.

“I think the gallops is the pinnacle of horse racing and I’m enjoying training thoroughbreds. To learn his craft, Jay went around trainers, gathering as much intel where he could and did that for four or five years before taking out his own licence.

The trainers he sought advice from included Les Kelly and Toby Edmonds on the Gold Coast and John Smerdon in Melbourne. While working for Les Kelly, about 10 years ago, he clicked with one of his owners, New South Wales-based builder Reg Flannery.

Among the horses Reg had with Les were Noah ‘N’ A Deel and her younger full sister Chayse ‘N Adam. Noah ‘N’ A Deel ran third in the 2023 Queensland Oaks. He now trains for Flannery and he will saddle the Flannery-owned Chayse ‘N Artie in a bid to win his first Tattersall’s Gold Cup (1600m) at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park on Friday.

“He has only had a couple of starts for me so I am still figuring him out,” Jay said.

“But, if he can find his best form, he will be a real big chance, and I reckon the horse is getting his spark back.”

A son of Flying Artie, Eagle Farm winner Chayse ‘N Artie has won eight races in total including a Beaudesert Cup. “It’s been a couple of preps since he has done his best but the Rockhampton track should suit him, and he only needs to find his Gold Coast and Ipswich form from late last year to be right in the finish.”

Jaden Lloyd will ride each of the Bellamy stable starters.

Dual acceptor, six-year-old gelding Demitasse will likely run in the Benchmark 70 Handicap.

“Jaden rode him when he was fourth in Towoomba last start and the 1300m and straight in Rocky should suit this horse, “ the trainer said.

The stable’s other three acceptors are Chase ‘N Leisa (BM62 Handicap – 1600m) and a couple of two-year-olds Peter Profit (QTIS 2YO Maiden -1100m – Div 1) and Naughty Nanna (QTIS 2YO Maiden – 1100m -Div 2).

Chayse ‘N Leisa, a four-year-old gelding, is looking for 1600m according to the trainer. “he’s going well enough, but he needs a good track, which he should get in Rocky and over the distance he may get to roll along,” he said.

The two-year-olds both have interesting stories and both have ability, according to the trainer.

“There’s not a lot between them, and I really like the way peter Profit is going,“ Jay said.

Peter Profit, who has the same name of one of the Queensland greatest ever harness horses of the 1970s, makes its race debut after winning three barrier trials at the Gold Coast and Beaudesert.

A $28,000 yearling graduate of the 2025 Ingliss Classic Sale, Peter Profit has drawn well at barrier two and should run a big race.

Jay chuckled when asked if Peter Profit was named after the harness racing star.

“Well yes and no, sort of,” he said. “When we bought him, we gave the horse the stable name Pete and he is by Profiteer, so we thought, Peter Profit was perfect for him.”

Peter Profit the pacer was an iconic horse in Queensland racing at Albion Park during the 1970s winning 43 races at Albion Park and was a dual winner of the Albion Park 10,000. Racing through to the age of 13 years, Peter Profit won 45 races for Donohue and his son Alan who drove the harness great. Fittingly, he is a member of the Queensland Harness Racing Hall of Fame. “I hope this horse can win as many as his namesake,” Jay said. “It’s uncanny, my dad raced trotters and his best horse was called Max Brydon who Peter Profit would beat whenever they met.”

Jay also likes his young filly, the bargain purchase Naughty Nanna. “I picked the filly up for just $8,000 and she goes alright,” he said. The daughter of Yes Yes Yes bolted in a Beaudesert trial before finishing close up when fifth on debut at Toowoomba earlier this month.

Early start on Tatt’s Gold Cup Day

The 10-race program at Callaghan Park commences at 11.15 am on Friday with the final race set to run at 4.37 pm.

• David Aldred, RJC CEO.