would you prefer it that way?

```java
DBObject queryObject = query(where("reference").gt(new BasicDBObject("$someKey", 0L))).getQueryObject();

DBObject mappedObject = mapper.getMappedObject(queryObject, context.getPersistentEntity(WithDBRef.class));
DBObject referenceObject = getAsDBObject(mappedObject, "reference");
DBObject gtObject = getAsDBObject(referenceObject, "$gt");

assertThat(gtObject, Is.<DBObject> is(new BasicDBObject("$someKey", 0L)));
```

Somehow thought the `$nested` `$key` one would be more readable.