Classy mare Gold Coast Belle too good on return

Gold Coast Belle is poised for more significant tests following a triumphant resumption at Sandown on Saturday.

Trainer Danny O'Brien has signalled a progression to Group 2 races for the four-year-old mare, who comfortably surpassed her opposition, including the previously undefeated Tennessee Bound, in the $150,000 Dr Sheahan Plate (1300m) contested by benchmark 88 horses.

The So You Think filly achieved her fourth consecutive victory, returning to the track after winning the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m) on May 1. O'Brien confirmed that the Group 2 Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) at their home track of Flemington on September 12 is the next target.

"She's probably in set-weights Stakes races for the rest of the spring, but this looked a good starting point for her and, fortunately, that's the way it panned out," O'Brien explained. "She was always travelling very comfortably and let down really well. She got across the softish ground with no problem, so there were a few things we hadn't seen before that she did today."

"She gets to the Let's Elope and then the other mares' race on Turnbull Day (Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes) – they're both 1400 at Flemington – which looks the right set-up for her."

While the Let's Elope Stakes and Rose Of Kingston Stakes are frequently used as lead-ups to the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Derby Day, O'Brien mentioned his aspiration for an invitation to the $2 million Group 2 The Invitation in Sydney, scheduled for a week earlier.

Gold Coast Belle ($2.30) demonstrated superiority over Tennessee Bound, which was seeking its seventh consecutive win from the start of its career, crossing the line 2-1/4 lengths ahead of the $2.70 second elect, with Moby Dick ($13) a further neck adrift in third.

This was Gold Coast Belle's fifth win from only seven career starts, with her other two races resulting in placings.

Although Jordan Childs has been her regular rider, O'Brien engaged top apprentice Logan Bates, who still possesses a 1.5kg claim for Saturday's event. The young jockey felt in control throughout the race.

"We were able to get in a nice controlling position and she just trucked the whole way," Bates reported. "When I did ask her, gee she let go, and she was having a good look about. She just showed her class today."

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