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In-form jockey combines with in-form mare to claim Bendigo Guineas
It wasn't a $1 million Group 1, but Jordan Childs was happy to pick up where he left off last weekend with another feature win at Bendigo on Saturday.
The in-form jockey took out the first of the Black Type races at Bendigo's Golden Mile meeting when he teamed with Danny O'Brien -trained filly Gold Coast Belle to score a gritty win in the $200,000 Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m).
It followed upset victory in the previous Saturday's Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes aboard Geegees Mistruth – his first win at the highest level in eight years – and Childs was thrilled to keep the momentum rolling.
"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' confidence helped him not panic when noted on-pacer Gold Coast Belle was forced to travel wider than he would have liked for much of the race, but it did not stop them digging deep in the home straight to score a tough win.
The $2.70 favourite got home by a neck from Bel Mezyaan ($8.50), who dashed home along the inside, to get home a half-head clear of third placegetter 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."
The Bendigo Guineas win made it four wins from six starts for Gold Coast Belle, a daughter of So You Think who has finished runner-up at her only two other starts.
Childs will be back interstate next weekend, off to the Gold Coast where he will partner She's A Hustler in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes.
