Grinzinger Belle dominant in the Let’s Elope Stakes
Trainer Danny O’Brien is eyeing a Group 1 race during the Melbourne Cup Carnival with impressive Flemington winner Grinzinger Belle.
Having her first start since competing in early winter at Caulfield, Grinzinger Belle registered an easy win in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
The Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day, a race restricted to fillies and mares, is likely to be Grinzinger Belle’s ultimate goal for the campaign.
Taken to the front by Damian Lane, Grinzinger Belle ($21) scored by four lengths from See You In Heaven ($6) with $5 favourite Alsephina a half-neck away third.
Grinzinger Belle has an affinity with the 1400m journey at Flemington having won the Group 3 The Vanity when resuming in February.
“She won The Vanity in the autumn first-up and we thought she was in similar order today, but tackling a deeper field,” O’Brien said.
“There were some very classy mares in that race today. She always travelled well in the run, but I didn’t think she’d open up and win like that.
“We’re really pleased that she’s come back as well as she did.
“She’s a good Kiwi-bred who is by Shamexpress, who we trained, and is close to our hearts and she seemed to really appreciate those conditions.”
O’Brien said Grinzinger Belle could head to Moonee Valley on Grand Final Eve for the Stocks Stakes (1600m) or return to Flemington for the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1600m) on October 5.
“She really cuts out at the mile, but I think we’d aim to be here on Derby Day for the mares’ Group 1,” O’Brien said.
As the field paraded for Saturday’s race and made their way around to the start, a shower of hail descended on Flemington.
Lane said the appalling weather did not seem to affect Grinzinger Belle.
“It seems as though she’s been in the paddock with plenty of weather because she wanted to face towards it, so I had to explain to her that you’re better off facing your bum to the hail,” Lane said.
“Once she figured that out, she handled it quite well.
“She huddled up with a couple of others and it obviously didn’t affect her performance.”
More Racing News
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...
Waller's entrants set for All-Star Mile at Flemington
Leading handler Chris Waller embraces the All-Star Mile format since its promotion to Group 1.Launched back in 2019, the All-Star Mile moved between key Melbourne venues and mirrored Japan's Arima Kinen by letting the public choose their top pick.Changes were implemented in later years, and Waller entered sparingly.Securing Group 1...
Mark Zahra backs Tentyris to overcome weight in Newmarket
Mark Zahra, the jockey, doesn't see the allocated weight for Tentyris as a barrier to the colt capturing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.To win the Group 1 1200m event at Flemington on Saturday, Tentyris must replicate the weight record set by Ajax back in 1938.The 57kg impost matches what Fastnet...
Freedman eyes Ninja's mile potential in Randwick Guineas
Michael Freedman counts on Ninja getting forward in the run as an essential element boosting his shot at the Group One Randwick Guineas.Unlike key challengers Autumn Boy and Attica, who prefer to come from off the pace, Ninja showed his flexibility in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by tracking the pacesetter...
Experienced Coal Crusher set for Newcastle Stakes challenge
If Coal Crusher maintains his strong connection with the Newcastle venue, he could provide Joe Pride with an excellent beginning to his weekend on a prominent regional racing occasion.On a quick six-day freshen-up from his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) defeat at Randwick, the gelding lines up in Friday's Group 3...
Rawiller's decision spotlights Lady Shenandoah's Canterbury Stakes bid
With Ciaron Maher readying Gringotts for his seasonal reappearance in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, another jockey has accidentally boosted the credentials of a prominent rival entrant.Nash Rawiller built an impressive alliance with Gringotts late in his previous campaign, notching successive wins in the Big Dance and The Gong.They were...