Australia: Je Suis Belle up in class in qualifier for Magic Millions Country Cup at Sunshine Coast Racecourse

The 4-year-old Australian-bred filly Je Suis Belle returned from a six-month layoff to win her second consecutive start in a handicap at 5 1/4 furlongs at Toowoomba Racecourse on Dec. 4, her fourth win in six starts.

Je Suis Belle has been raced in minor handicaps in her brief career, a format that is starting to change. Sunday at Sunshine Coast Racecourse, Je Suis Belle starts in a five-furlong handicap that is a qualifying race for the $190,500 Magic Millions Country Cup at six furlongs at Gold Coast Racecourse on Jan. 9. Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast are located in the state of Queensland.

Je Suis Belle is part of a field of 10 in Sunday’s race, a distance the filly knows well. Trained by Mark Currie at Toowoomba, Je Suis Belle has won 4 of 5 starts at five furlongs and 2 of 3 starts at Sunshine Coast.

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Je Suis Belle tends to lead or dispute the pace. She will break from post 8 and will be ridden for the first time by Andrew Mallyon.

Je Suis Belle, who will carry 124.5 pounds, could face early pressure from Say Haya, a five-time winner who has not raced since a seventh-place finish as the 2-1 favorite in a field of 11 at Doomben Racecourse on Aug. 22. Earlier this year, Say Haya won handicaps at Doomben at distances of 5 1/2 furlongs and six furlongs.

Say Haya will carry 126.7 pounds.

Sunday’s qualifier is a significant drop in class for I Dream of Green, the 134.4-pound topweight. I Dream of Green was fourth in the Eye Liner Stakes at six furlongs at Ipswich in July and was eighth and fourth in lucrative handicaps at Doomben and Eagle Farm in August.

I Dream of Green has not raced since the Eagle Farm race on Aug. 29.

The eight-race Sunshine Coast program begins at 9:35 p.m. Eastern, or 6:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering and viewing is available through DRFBets.com.