As a country boy from Ararat in regional Victoria, Michael Bellman knows all too well about the local footy scene.
And, when speaking about his three-time Group 1-winning trotter Mecarno, he references a bush Australian Rules Football competition.
As a three-year-old, Mecarno was a star against his own age group, winning at the highest level on three occasions.
In his last couple of starts, Mecarno has had to tackle the Free For All ranks, which he likened to a junior player stepping straight into senior football against seasoned, hardened bodies.
On Saturday evening at Albion Park, the gelding is back against his own age as he tackles the high-quality three and four-year-old brigade in the Group 1 The Great Square.
After a couple of fifth-placed finishes against the older horses, the 45-year-old Bellman believes Mecarno is ready to shine once again.
“He's had to come out of the frying pan into the fire, so to speak,” Bellman said.
“I related it a little bit to an under-16 footballer going straight to seniors. So, he's only had the 17 starts and he's had to learn fairly quick.
“So, it's going to be a good gauge to get back into our age group this week.”
Bellman is enjoying the ride of a lifetime with his square gaiter.
He has always been a prominent trainer and driver across Victoria, but after decades in the game, Bellman finally tasted his maiden Group 1 success in the sport with Mecarno last year.
The Victorian horseman has lobbed at the property of Shawn and Michelle Grimsey at Tamborine for the northern raid.
“He's settled in very well,” Bellman said of Mecarno.
“He has eaten and drunk well; he's got here and seems really happy and free and easy.
“Michelle and Shawn have been great. We arrived here on Monday and everything was ready for us and I can't thank them enough for having us. The facilities are fantastic."
Bellman considered heading north in December of last year for the 2025 edition of The Great Square when the race was contested during the summer months.
He was keen to avoid superstar Keayang Zahara and opted against heading to the Sunshine State on that occasion, but he is glad to finally be in Queensland with his talented trotter.
“We just felt last year he wasn't quite there,” he said.
“We weren't ready to tackle Keayang Zahara and this is his last chance at racing in The Great Square before hopefully next year looking at the Inter Dominion.
“So, this is his time to shine, step up and hopefully he can do that.”
While Bellman is relishing the opportunity to prepare a horse for some of the biggest events in Australia, it does come with the added tension.
In his capacity as a driver, he has competed in 133 Group 1s across his career.
As a trainer, he has just had 11 runners at the level.
So, he is familiar with driving against the best of the best, but when it comes to preparing his own starter, the son of Tactical Landing is breaking new ground.
“I have learnt a lot about handling the pressure of being a trainer and driver under these circumstances, as well,” he said.
“It's a bit easier when you're just a driver and you hand them back.
“But, when they're your own pride and joy, so to speak, as well, it's a lot more pressure that comes with it and you certainly stress a lot more about them.”
Despite the anxiety that comes along with it, Bellman is enjoying his time in the sun.
“You do because these sorts of horses come along sometimes once in a lifetime, if that, for some people,” he said.
“So, it's important to enjoy the ride while you've got them and to be part of these carnivals.
“To be able to have a horse good enough to take away, that's what we strive for and get out of bed for.”
In Saturday’s $150,000 event, Bellman and Mecarno have drawn 12 and will start from four on second row.
As of Thursday morning, they are a $4.50 chance with the bookmakers as Dash Dosh and Tracy The Jet head the market as $3.80 equal favourites.
“I think it's going to be pretty tactically driven throughout,” Bellman said.
“It's going to be a great race.
“There are so many great horses in it and I think in time they'll look back and say it was one of the strongest The Great Squares they've ever seen, just by the depth and the quality that's there.
“So, good beginnings and manners are going to play key early to a few and who has to do more work than they're comfortable doing.”
If Mecarno was successful on Saturday evening, the stable is likely to stick around for the Inter Dominion series, but if not, they will head home and focus on Victoria’s upcoming features.
