BELLE CHIMES AGAIN AFTER ROBUST DISCUSSION

A robust post race discussion between trainer Danny O’Brien and jockey Damian Lane following her last start defeat was the catalyst for Grinzinger Belle to bounce back into the winner's stall at Caulfield on Guineas Day. 

O’Brien thought that Lane had gone too slow when leading in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes which in his opinion saw the mare was out-sprinted to finish third.  Lane made sure that wouldn't be the case Group 3 Catanach's 150 Years Vase on Saturday.

Taking up her usual front running role in the Vase, the daughter of Shamexpress was all out over the 1600m 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.

"Danny and I had a robust discussion after Moonee Valley that I probably didn't go quick enough on her and there was a couple of circumstances surrounding that, but I think she showed today that she's a high-cruising speed horse and, yeah, I wasn't sure at the mile either, but two ticks to Danny. Credit where credit's due. He got both right," Lane said post-race.

O'Brien was full of praise for Lane's ride.

"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."

The Melbourne Cup winning trainer was confident she would run a strong mile.

"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 certainly didn't get it as easy as you'd like the first 200-300m, 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."

O'Brien said the mare had grown into her frame which as seen her improve as a four-year-old,

"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."

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.

Pic by Racing Photos