Belle Couture Wins Jump Out At Flemington

Black Caviar’s half-sister Belle Couture is expected to make her highly-anticipated racing debut before the end of the month after winning a jump out at Flemington today.

Damien Oliver partnered Belle Couture in her jump out victory at Flemington this morning.

Damien Oliver partnered Belle Couture in her jump out victory at Flemington this morning. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Belle Couture had her first jump out on November 22 at Flemington, finishing second after slightly missing the start, and produced an improved performance this morning; winning the jump out over 800 meters despite being kept under a heavy hold by jockey Damien Oliver.

The daughter of Redoute’s Choice was kept wide by Oliver and was sitting in third position coming around the final turn before hitting the front to record a comfortable victory over her six rivals in the jump out.

Trainer Danny O’Brien told Racing Victoria that he was happy with the performance of the expensive filly and said that he was most impressed with the improvement she had taken out of her first competitive experience a fortnight ago.

“It’s only the second time she’s done something under competition, but she’s made good progression,” O’Brien said.

“She jumped well today, travelled in a good spot without being asked and, more importantly, when Damien asked them to go past them she did.

“He thought she just floated a little bit when she got to the front but that’s all just experience and it was real progression from what she did two weeks ago.”

O’Brien has been very patient with Belle Couture and is now very happy with her condition as well as the way that she has handled her first two public appearances.

The Cox Plate winning trainer is yet to decide on an exact plan with the three-year-old and said he will make a decision about a potential racing debut after he sees how she recovers from her victory this morning.

“She’s coping really well,” O’Brien said.

“Physically and mentally she seems to be in pretty good shape, she’s starting to look better as she gets closer to race fitness and her coat’s looking good, so it’s all very positive.

“We will give her a couple of days to get over this and maybe a gallop at the end of next week.

“Then we will decide whether or not we are ready to go to the races or whether she needs one more jump out but we are certainly getting very close.”

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.