Photo: Bruno Cannatelli
Bold front-running mare Grinzinger Belle (Shamexpress) has further embellished her already impressive record with victory in the Gr.3 Catanach's 150 Years Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Prepared by Danny O’Brien, Grinzinger Belle is a daughter of in-form sire Shamexpress, a son of O’Reilly whom O’Brien trained to win the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
Ridden by Damian Lane, Grinzinger Belle ran solid splits in the mid-stages of the race and had just enough in the tank to withstand the fast-finishing Private Legacy, with See You In Heaven third.
“She's been beaten a head in two mile races previously and just gobbled up late. I think that's as far as she wants, obviously, but she got the right conditions, she did a really good job there,” O’Brien said.
“She can't lead and stack up because they’ll out-sprint her, and that's what happened at Moonee Valley last start.
“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.”
The winner of the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) two starts back, Grinzinger Belle carried 59kg topweight under the set weights and penalties conditions on Saturday but still proved too strong and a tilt at the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) is now on the cards.
“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 weight,” O’Brien said.
“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.”
Grinzinger Belle was bred by Windsor Park Stud and is out of Ripsomemore, a Rip Van Winkle half-sister to Group Three winner Golden Parachute.
Grinzinger Belle is another good graduate of the New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale at Karaka, where she was purchased by owner John Wheeler for $32,000.
Despite some fertility challenges, Shamexpress operates off 5.9 percent stakes winners to runners and his 2020 crop of just over 20 foals includes Grinzinger Belle and Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising.
