Grinzinger Belle Goes Coast to Coast in G3 Ladies Day Vase

Mark Smith - Saturday October 12

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).

Grinzinger Belle low flying (image Grant Courtney)

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.

Advertisement

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.

Good girl (image Grant Courtney)

“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.”

Grinzinger Belle a $32,000 Karaka yearling

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).

Advertisment

Race Result - Catanach's 150 Years Vase Gr3 1600m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.98
1
Grinzinger Belle
- 4m Shamexpress (NZ) x Ripsomemore (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 59
2
0.4
Private Legacy
- 4m The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Private Secretary (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: G D Hickman Rdr: B Melham 56
3
1.9
See You In Heaven
- 5m Divine Prophet (AUS) x Shine On Anna (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: R & C Jolly Rdr: Craig Williams 58
4
2.7
Rumbled Again
- 7m Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Adulate (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Trotter Rdr: B Shinn 56
5
3.7
Lady Jones
- 5m Toronado (IRE) x Lady Slevoir (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: S V Brown Rdr: Ethan Brown 56
6
4.9
City Of Lights
- 5m Deep Impact (JPN) x Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
7
5.1
Vibrant Sun
- 4m The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Vibrant Rouge (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M Zahra 60
8
8.3
Fire Of Etna
- 5m Rebel Raider (AUS) x Cahira (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: L Currie 56
9
8.3
Matriarch Rose
- 5m Epaulette (AUS) x Antonia (AUS) (Lope De Vega (IRE))
Tnr: Dan O'Sullivan Rdr: Declan Bates 56
10
12.1
Osmose
- 6m Zoffany (IRE) x Meseika (USA) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jye McNeil 58
More Reading...
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.
Grinzinger Belle Brave from the Front in Vanity
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.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Extremely Good Week!
It’s been a memorable week for Star Thoroughbreds having sold their multiple Group winning mare Olentia for $2.6million and then the purple and white stars were back in the winner’s circle at Canterbury on Wednesday carried by 3YO Extreme Choice colt Estremo.
Zoustar Entering the Zenith
The dictionary tells us Zenith is an astronomical term —describing the highest point in an arc travelled by a star, planet or another celestial body- and in the case of this story it’s planet Zoustar!
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
A Family Affair - Russian Camelot Filly Salutes at Sandown
Danny O’Brien enjoyed Group I success with outstanding colt Russian Camelot (IRE), so was understandably excited to produce his first metropolitan winner as a sire at Sandown on Wednesday and Censori comes from a family that he knows inside and out.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 6
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.