Making her first start since being edged out in the Group II Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day last October, Grinzinger Belle opened her stakes account in Saturday’s $200,000 Group III The Tab Vanity (1400m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Damian Lane for Danny O’Brien, the 4-year-old daughter of Shamexpress was brave from the front in defeating the Rubick filly French Endeavour by one and a quarter lengths, with the Pierro filly Mollynickers a nose back in third.
“She was good in the spring and just got beaten on Cox Plate Day in a three-year-old fillies Group 2, and trialled up well,” O’Brien revealed.
“We had her forward enough to run well, but when I was watching those sectionals, and they were running 10.9, 11 and a tick, 11 and a tick, you’re always never sure how much petrol was going to be left. Fair play to her; she was solid right down the running, and it was a very good win.
“She is a very big filly, and was always going to be better as she got that strength to carry the frame, but she has been a straightforward filly by a horse we trained, Shamexpress, who ran second in the Lightning here ten years ago.
“It is good to come back with a daughter of his and win on the same day.
“I think she is 1400m to a mile type. A strong on-speed filly at that distance. I don’t think she is a genuine stayer.
“She is likely to stay amongst the fillies in three weeks in the Kewney, and then we’re back to Moonee Valley. There’s two good Group races for her in Melbourne.”
Damian Lane said the daughter of Shamexpress has made significant improvement.
“She’s come back in great order. She trialled up really nicely and she’s furnished into a lovely nig filly now,” he said.
“There was always a frame there for that in the spring, but she didn’t quite have the physical substance, and she seems to have furnished.”
Grinzinger Belle advances her record to two wins, two seconds, and a third from eight starts with earnings of $221,955.
Owner John Wheeler purchased Grinzinger Belle for $32,000 from the Windsor Park draft in Book 2 of the NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Shamexpress is the first foal of the once-raced Rip Van Winkle mare Ripsomemore, a half-sister to the South African Group III winner Golden Parachute (Montjeu), stakes-placed Flax (Falkirk), and to the dam of ARC Eclipse Stakes winner Play That Song (Showcasing).
From the family of Group 1 Caulfield Cup winner Affinity, Ripsomemore has a 2-year-old filly by Rageese named Porthouse Lady in training with Ken Rae and Krystal Williams. She finished fourth on her debut last September.
Grinzinger Belle is the tenth stakes-winner for Windsor Park Stud’s Group 1 VRC Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress.
