Bendigo Guineas chance for improving Gold Coast Belle
Reliable filly Gold Coast Belle seeks to secure black-type honours during her appearance in a stakes contest at Bendigo.
With three wins and a pair of seconds across her five career runs, Gold Coast Belle takes her place in the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m) on Saturday.
The Bendigo Guineas has proven a valuable stepping stone, with previous victors including Wonder Boy, War Machine, Waltz On By, Annavisto, Riddle Me That, Milwaukee and Silent Sedition going on to bigger things.
She was nominated for the Listed Adelaide Guineas (1600m) over at Morphettville on the same day, but handler Danny O'Brien always favoured the Bendigo assignment.
"We accepted with Gold Coast Bell and Adelaide in case she drew really poorly at Bendigo, but she's drawn OK there," O'Brien said.
"She'll come into seven or eight when the barriers sort themselves out, and she's in good shape, so it looks in a race that should be really competitive in."
The filly began this campaign by breaking her maiden at Seymour, then finishing second at Sandown's Hillside track.
She bounced back with a win at Sandown Lakeside before a resounding triumph at Caulfield in a 1400m event on April 11.
According to O'Brien, Gold Coast Belle has been progressing well.
"She's just one of those fillies that's just continued to thrive the deeper she has got into the prep," O'Brien said.
"Each time she's gone to the races, she's looked a better horse, and she was dominant the other day, and she certainly hasn't gone backwards.
"She's a good style filly."
Saturday's result will dictate next steps for Gold Coast Belle, with a potential winter raid in Queensland under consideration.
"It's still open-ended, but we'll get through the weekend," O'Brien said.
"There is either that or the temptation may be to give her a break and have a really good look at the spring."
Trainer Danny O'Brien enters Jett Smash in the Saturday feature as well.
After four straight wins leading in, O'Brien chose to bypass this race with Jett Smash for a later target.
Check out online bookmakers for competitive racing betting markets on the Bendigo Guineas.
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