It may not have been a $1 million Group 1 contest, yet Jordan Childs was pleased to maintain his recent success with yet another feature triumph at Bendigo on Saturday.
The jockey in top shape claimed the opening Black Type event during Bendigo’s Golden Mile card after partnering with the Danny O’Brien-prepared filly Gold Coast Belle for a determined victory in the $200,000 Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m).
This came after his surprise success in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes the Saturday prior aboard Geegees Mistruth – marking his initial elite-level win in eight years – and Childs was delighted to sustain the positive run.
“Last week was great and I’ve continued to ride winners since then, so we’re in a bit of form at the moment and very happy,” Childs said.
“I feel like I’ve been riding well for a while, I’ve been very consistent in my riding the last few seasons and I’ve always been around the mark.
“Not riding Group 1 winners, but riding Group 2 and Group 3 and feature races, so to knock over that second Group 1, hopefully I can build a bit of momentum off that going into the Brisbane Carnival and then into spring.”
Childs’ assurance enabled him to stay calm despite the prominent runner Gold Coast Belle having to cover extra ground out wide for most of the contest, yet they still powered on strongly down the straight for a hard-fought success.
The $2.70 market leader prevailed by a neck over Bel Mezyaan ($8.50), who closed sharply on the rail, finishing a half-head ahead of the third-placed Sulek ($31).
“It was a really good effort from her and all credit to the horse,” Childs said.
“The race probably didn’t work out how we would have liked but good horses overcome that.”
Success in the Bendigo Guineas brought Gold Coast Belle’s record to four victories from six outings, as the So You Think filly has been placed second in her remaining two appearances.
Childs heads back out of state next weekend, heading to the Gold Coast to ride She’s A Hustler in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes.
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