A patient approach with Black Caviar’s half-sister Belle Couture has reaped its first reward with the valuable filly scoring an impressive win at Caulfield.
The Danny O’Brien-trained three-year-old won in a manner suggesting there were better things in store for the daughter of Redoute’s Choice out of the brilliant producer Helsinge.
Belle Couture, Damien Oliver - Photo by Sharon Chapman
Stepping out on Monday for just her second start after a narrow debut defeat at Bendigo in December, Belle Couture settled well back in a 1200m maiden.
After she straightened up and set sail for the leaders, the result never looked in doubt.
Belle Couture, the $2.70 favourite, sprinted to the front 150m out under Damien Oliver and surged to a 2-1/4 length win to the delight and relief of her trainer.
“I’m very happy, for myself and the owners. We’ve all been very patient,” O’Brien said.
“She’s only three and her sister didn’t race a lot until she was four and five either.
“It was the right way to handle her. She’s a big girl and has had a couple of little growing pains and she’s just improving all the time.
“She had a soft kill today, so hopefully we can start to raise the bar.”
O’Brien intends to press on this campaign with Belle Couture to continue the filly’s education and lay a platform to tackle more valuable races next season.
“She’s got to learn a bit of race craft now and get a bit of confidence and get a bit of a rating,” O’Brien said.
“There’s plenty of races at Flemington through May and June and hopefully we can put a couple of wins on the board and then give ourselves a platform for some black type.
“That’s all she needs. She’s obviously very valuable, but if she can get a bit of her own black type, she’d have it all in front of her at stud.”
Oliver said he always felt the filly was going to let down with a good finish after going back from her wide draw.
“A little bit of time has really helped her and Danny’s patience is being rewarded now,” Oliver said.
Belle Couture, a $2.6 million yearling, is the fourth of Helsinge’s progeny to win.
Hall of Fame mare Black Caviar was unbeaten in 25 starts, while her half-brother All Too Hard claimed four Group One races in the 2012-13 season before being retired to stud.
Moshe won three of his five starts and is also at stud.
Belle Couture’s unraced younger brother, known as Jimmy, was euthanised in December after contracting the hoof disease laminitis.
