Grinzinger Belle Brave from the Front in Vanity

Mark Smith - Saturday February 17

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.

Good tough win (image Grant Courtney)

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.

Advertisement

“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.

Lots of the old man in Grinzinger Belle (image Grant Courtney)

“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.

Grinzinger Belle a $32,000 Karaka yearling

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.

Advertisment

Race Result - The TAB Vanity Gr3 1400m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:22.35
1
Grinzinger Belle
- 3f Shamexpress (NZ) x Ripsomemore (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 56
2
1.3
French Endeavour
- 3f Rubick (AUS) x French News (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: M J Dee 56
3
1.4
Mollynickers
- 3f Pierro (AUS) x Just One Moment (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: B Melham 57
Pierro
4
2.1
Infatuation
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Sweet Kiss (AUS) (Strada (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Jye McNeil 57
5
2.3
Thailess
- 3f Needs Further (AUS) x Mai Thai (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Bobbin Rdr: Ms L J Meech 56
6
3.1
Pink Chandon
- 3f Pierro (AUS) x Chandana (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
7
3.8
Material Dreams
- 3f Lean Mean Machine (AUS) x Lincoln's Sunset (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: John Allen 56
8
4.6
Basilinna
- 3f Staphanos (JPN) x So Royal (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: B Shinn 56
9
4.7
Luijzika
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Aloisia (NZ) (Azamour (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Declan Bates 56
10
6.7
La Casona
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Chachapoyas (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Craig Williams 56
11
7.2
Inez
- 3f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Bring Me Roses (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Lee & Shannon Hope Rdr: Jordan Childs 56
12
7.4
Donegal
- 3f American Pharoah (USA) x Jolie's Shinju (JPN) (Jolie's Halo (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M Zahra 56
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Justify Strikes at Newmarket with New G3 Winner
The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes ((1m5f) at Newmarket overnight produced a runaway winner in Scandinavia and while his sire Justify no longer shuttles to Australia, two of his sons will be on the roster at Coolmore this spring in City of Troy (IRE) and Storm Boy.
Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous
It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Godolphin Draft Headlines Huge Inglis Digital July (Early)
A 26-strong Godolphin draft, a G1 placed 3YO with credentials for the $10m Golden Eagle and shares in multiple other G1 performers including dual G1 winner Overpass headline a huge catalogue for the Inglis Digital July (Early) Online Sale.
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.
Kiwi Bred Grinzinger Belle Wins G2 Let's Elope
New Zealand-bred mare Grinzinger Belle made a bold start to her spring campaign with a commanding front-running performance in Saturday’s A$300,000 Group II Furphy Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Bred to Be Better at Three
Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Onwards and Upwards for Grinzinger Belle
An intriguing maiden over 1300m for 3-year-old fillies to start the day at Sandown Hillside, with the first two finishers looking capable of playing a part in better races in the spring.
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.