Danny O’Brien was critical of Damian Lane’s ride on Grinzinger Belle in the Group II Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley but was full of praise for the leading rider after he timed it inch perfect in Saturday’s Group III Catanach's 150 Years Vase (1600m).
O’Brien thought that Lane had gone too slow when leading in the Stocks Stakes and was outsprinted.
Taking up her usual front running role in the Vase, the daughter of Shamexpress was all out to hold the challenge of the fast finishing The Autumn Sun mare Private Legacy by a neck with the Divine Prophet mare See You In Heaven one and a half lengths back in third.
With her third stakes win, Grinzinger Belle advances her record to four wins, three seconds, and two thirds from 14 starts with earnings of $598,655.
Danny O’Brien said 1600m may be her limit.
“She's been beaten a head in two mile races previously and just gobbled up late,” Obrien said.
“I think that's as far as she wants, obviously, but she got the right conditions, she did a really good job there.”
“She can't lead and stack up because they’ll out-sprint her, and that's what happened at Moonee Valley. So we were pretty keen to be aggressive today. She needs to take the power out of the ones chasing her well before they turn it home. And Damian did that today. It's A fine balance, leaving enough to get to the line as well, but she has been ridden really well by Damian throughout her career and once again today.
“She certainly didn't get it as easy as you'd like the first two or three hundred metres, but she's a great mare that's in great form and she's carried the big penalty there today. We'll get her to the mile race in three weeks' time now and they’ll meet on set weights.
“It'll be a stronger race, but I'm sure she'll give a good sight.”
“She's always been a very big mare, and she was always going to be a mare that as she strengthened and was able to carry her frame better, she'd get better. And she's come back this spring, and certainly found a few lengths on what was good three-year-old form, but she is one of those horses that's got better at four.”
Owner John Wheeler purchased Grinzinger Belle for $32,000 from the Windsor Park draft in Book 2 of the NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.
From the family of Group 1 Caulfield Cup winner Affinity, 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).
