BELLE MAKES FIRST-UP STATEMENT

Gold Coast Belle is set for tougher challenges after making a winning return to racing at Sandown on Saturday.

Trainer Danny O’Brien has indicated a move to Group 2 company for the four-year-old mare, who decisively defeated her competitors, including the previously undefeated Tennessee Bound, in the $150,000 Dr Sheahan Plate (1300m) for benchmark 88 performers.

The daughter of So You Think secured her fourth consecutive victory in her first start since claiming 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 will be her next outing.

“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 stated.

“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 often serve as lead-ups to the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Derby Day, O’Brien expressed hope for an invitation to the $2 million Group 2 The Invitation in Sydney a week prior.

Gold Coast Belle ($2.30) proved superior to Tennessee Bound, which was aiming for a seventh successive win to commence its career, finishing 2-1/4 lengths ahead of the $2.70 second favourite, with Moby Dick ($13) a further neck back in third.

Saturday’s triumph marked Gold Coast Belle’s fifth win from only seven starts, with the mare having finished second on the remaining two occasions.

Despite Jordan Childs having partnered her for most of her previous races, O’Brien utilized the services of top apprentice Logan Bates, who still benefits from a 1.5kg claim for Saturday’s race. The young jockey felt confident throughout the race.

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

Story by AAP, appeared on Just Horse Racing

Pic by Racing Photos