Damian Lane and Danny O’Brien have combined with consistent fresh performer Grinzinger Belle ($15), who caused a boilover in the Group 3 Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington.
The daughter of Shamexpress recorded a victory when first-up in the Group 3 Vanity Stakes at the same track and trip last preparation, and she has replicated that result with a strong front-running performance on Saturday afternoon.
Lane took his four-year-old mare straight to the front in horrible conditions and showed the rest of the field a clean pair of heels throughout the 1400m journey.
As the field turned for home, Grinzinger Belle gave a massive kick and put up a big margin on the chasers, as Alsephina ($7.50) and See You In Heaven ($6.50) came out of the pack to chase the leader down.
However, it was all in vain, as Lane kept the mare galloping along and she careered away to win by a massive four-length victory over See You In Heaven and Alsephina.
2024 Let’s Elope Stakes replay – Grinzinger Belle
Danny O’Brien was ecstatic with the victory, and he spoke post-race.
“Very happy,” O’Brien said.
“She won The Vanity in the autumn first-up and we thought she was in similar order today tackling a deeper field. Very classy mares in that race today.
“She always travelled well in the run but I didn’t think she’d open up and win like that.
“Really pleased that she’s come back as well as she did.
“She’s a good kiwi-bred who is by Shamexpress who we trained and is close to our hearts. She seemed to really appreciate it (conditions).
“She really cuts out at the mile but we’d aim to be here on Derby Day for the mares Group 1.”
Damian Lane was complimentary of his mare in his post-race interview.
“She was very good. She’s a good fresh horse,” Lane explained.
“First trial was so-so and then she trailled much better last time.
“She took good improvement from that and she was cherry ripe for today.
“It seems as though she’s been in the paddock with plenty of weather because she wanted to face towards it so I had to explain to her that you’re better off facing your bum to the hail.
“Once she figured that out she handled it quite well.
“She huddled up with a couple of others and it obviously didn’t affect her performance.”
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