The $2m Coolmore Stud Stakes is a 1200m three year old race run down the straight at Flemington Racecourse. The set weights scamper has long been a grand final for three year old sprinters and has a lengthy honour roll that includes some absolute star gallopers and well renowned stallions.
Last year’s Coolmore was taken out by Home Affairs, who donned the Coolmore navy blue silks and just so happens to now stand at Coolmore Stud in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley.
Looking at the market, Dabble has Godolphin filly, In Secret, as the $3.80 favourite for this year’s feature sprint, off the back of her close up second in the Golden Rose. The horse that beat her on the occasion, Jacquinot, is a $5.50 chance, while Coolangatta ($7.50) and Buenos Noches ($8.00) are also given a chance in the market. Unbeaten colt, Grand Impact, has also been well supported and is into $9.00.
As the market suggests, this year’s Coolmore is one of the more keenly contested races this Spring. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Coolmore Stud Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Jacquinot (16) – $5.50
Jockey – Damian Lane 57kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Beat Aft Cabin in good style first up before an electrifying win in the Golden Rose. Attacked the line strong in The Everest last start to be only beaten 1.5L. Never raced up the Flemington straight but gives the impression it’ll suit, the outside gate is a plus and he has the right form. Watch for him late.
2. Best Of Bordeaux (17) – $17
Jockey – Ben Melham 57kg
Trainer – Kacy Fogden
Coolmore owned colt who is on the seven day back up after a gallant third in the Manikato last Saturday. Will race handy to the speed and has form around In Secret but might be found wanting the last little bit.
We can’t wait for the Coolmore Stud Stakes & many key contenders had a look down the straight at the jump outs! 👀
Also, get insight from @MickPriceRacing & @ANeashamRacing on their runners ✍️ #TheTrialShow @brentzerafa pic.twitter.com/bm2RiKKiO5
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 25, 2022
3. Sejardan (12) – $21
Jockey – John Allen 57kg
Trainer – Gary Portelli
Another on the quick turnaround after an eye-catching win last Saturday. Should be well suited by a genuine tempo here and if given clear air can unleash a sizzling turn of foot, as seen seven days ago. Not out of it.
4. Lofty Strike (5) – $23
Jockey – Jamie Mott 57kg
Trainer – Julius Sandhu
Returned from a spell with a good third behind Grand Impact at Caulfield. Showed plenty of promise winning both his starts in the Summer and should be improved by the first up run. In the mix.
5. Nettuno (10) – $23
Jockey – Damien Oliver 57kg
Trainer – Tony Gollan
Qld colt who hasn’t been far away in three runs over the border (NSW) this prep. Likely to find this a bit tougher but can’t be completely ruled out with D Oliver in the saddle.
6. Buenos Noches (15) – $8.00
Jockey – Craig Newitt 57kg
Trainer – Matthew Smith
Ran Giga Kick to a nostril last start in the Danehill here at Flemington. That form is good for any race and he goes super down the straight. Will get back and stalk from the high gate and have the last shot. Can win.
7. Grand Impact (1) – $9.00
Jockey – Mark Zahra 57kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Kept his unbeaten record intact when winning the Blue Sapphire last start at Caulfield. This is a different ball game now but winning form is good form and he looks to have his fair share of ability. Each-way chance.
This Coolmore Stud Stakes is shaping up to be one of the races of the spring.
Can’t wait to make my debut at Flemington 💪🏼❤️ #derbyday
— Dean Watling (@deanwatling) October 23, 2022
8. Economics (14) – $13
Jockey – Chad Schofield 57kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Resumed with a dominant win at Rosehill. The form out of the race has been good and although this is a big step up here, he can run time and will make his own luck on speed. Looked good in a recent Flemington jump out up the straight and is definitely worth including in exotics.
9. Meridius (6) – $51
Jockey – William Buick 57kg
Trainer – Lloyd Kennewell
Drops back to the 1200m here after an even effort in the Caulfield Guineas last start. He chased home Aft Cabin prior to that which ties in well but might find a few too sharp here.
10. Doull (4) – $61
Jockey – Jye McNeil 57kg
Trainer – Anthony & Sam Freedman
Led them up last time out and was swallowed up late by Giga Kick and Buenos Noches. Gets the tongue tie on here and will roll forward but it’s hard to see him turn the tables on Buenos Noches alone in what looks a high pressure race.
11. Great Barrier Reef (7) – $126
Jockey – Damien Thornton 57kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Well supported last Saturday but failed to fire at the Valley. Run prior was good here behind Giga Kick and could improve at huge odds back on a dry surface.
12. Custodian (3) – $126
Jockey – Brett Prebble 57kg
Trainer – Anthony & Sam Freedman
Speedy customer who led and almost stole it at Caulfield last start over 1400m. Will adopt similar tactics here but this race is a lot harder and would need to produce a career best figure to finish in the placings.
13. Bews (2) – $91
Jockey – Daniel Moor 57kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Got back and never came into it last start on a very heavy surface. Will appreciate a firmer deck here and gets blinkers on for the first time but may find this a bit beyond him.
14. Coolangatta (13) – $7.50
Jockey – Craig Williams 55kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Group 1 winning filly Coolangatta will run in Saturday’s Coolmore Stud Stakes @FlemingtonVRC after being scratched from the Manikato Stakes yesterday.
Craig Williams will take over the ride from Jamie Kah who is at Rosehill for the Golden Eagle. @Racing— Trav Noonan (@TravTurf) October 23, 2022
Led from barrier to box last start and held out subsequent G1 winner, Bella Nipotina, in doing so. Steps up to a high pressure 1200m now and faces the Flemington straight for the first time, but is back to her own age and will be in it for a long way.
15. In Secret (9) – $3.80F
Jockey – James McDonald 55kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Game in defeat behind Jacquinot last start in the Golden Rose. Went to the line under a nice hold in a recent Flemington jump out down the straight and should get a nice trail from the middle gate here. Stable is flying and she looks ready to go for this.
16. Queen Of The Ball (8) – $34
Jockey – Joshua Parr 55kg
Trainer – Michael Freedman
Led and won well at Moonee Valley before a close up fifth behind Paulele last start. Has plenty of early toe and has jumped out well down the straight recently, but might be tested in the last 100m here.
17. C’est Magique (11) – $41
Jockey – Michael Dee 55kg
Trainer – Grahame Begg
Good run in the Cap D’antibes before a luckless sixth behind English Riviera last start. With a bit of luck could be unbeaten and comes from an astute yard. Capable of finishing in the money at big odds.
Final Word
It’s not unusual for a Coolmore Stud Stakes field to raise the hairs on an avid punter’s neck, and this year’s Coolmore is one of the better editions we’ve seen in recent times. It could even be argued that this is the race of the Spring. As expected it looks as though it’ll be a high pressure affair and tactics will be key, as they always are down the Flemington straight.
🚨MARKET OPEN🚨
In Secret is the $3.80 favourite ahead of Saturday’s Coolmore Stud Stakes. pic.twitter.com/Iwg8GitgVz
— TAB (@tabcomau) October 26, 2022
Feel the market has this race pretty spot on and I’ve got it down to three main winning hopes. Jacquinot the first, who was ultra-impressive winning the Golden Rose before another eye-catching run in The Everest last start. He looks well suited here and the wide draw is perfect. If he’s close enough at the clock tower, he’ll give this a mighty shake.
The Matthew Smith trained, Buenos Noches, ran Everest winner Giga Kick to a bee’s proverbial last start here at Flemington. Like Jacquinot, he will get back and stalk the field from the wide gate and have the last crack.
Favourite for the race, In Secret, also looks very hard to beat off the back of her narrow defeat in the Golden Rose. She looked good in a recent Flemington jump out and gets McDonald in the saddle.
Of the others, Economics will make his own luck in the first few and has smashed the clock at his last couple. He also had a Flemington jump out last Friday and looked very comfortable going through his gears to win nicely under jockey, Chad Schofield.
Sejardan was impressive last Saturday and will be strong late and as for last start Moir Stakes winner, Coolangatta, I’m willing to play around her up to 1200m in a high pressure race.
Coolmore Stud Stakes Tip
1. Jacquinot – Each-way ($5.50/$2.15)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
