Airlines will bump THEIR OWN GOLD or SILVER ahead of their other partners GOLDS
I would tend to agree with you and it would also make sense.
I got five upgrades (from Y to C), three with KLM (two on long haul sectors) when I was Flying Blue Gold member and two with Alitalia when I was Freccia Alata member (equivalent to Gold).
In both Alitalia cases I was travelling with my daughter.
Ciao,
Ulxima