Whilst the country’s best sprinters burn the turf at Flemington on Saturday, the ladies get their chance to shine at Rosehill Gardens in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic. The $600k fillies and mares quality, run over 1500m, looks a very even and open contest this year with 17 starters to do battle, after the early scratching of Zougotcha.
Looking at the market, Dabble has last start Flemington winner Annavisto favourite in a wide open affair at $5.50, ahead of both Hope In Your Heart and Ruthless Dame at $7.50. Gritty mare, Hinged, is also well in contention at $8.00 and it’s out to double figures the rest of the field, headed by Espiona at $10.
Zougotcha is officially out of the Coolmore Classic and will run in the Phar Lap Stakes where she is a $1.80 favourite. pic.twitter.com/YLGaMSThtN
— TAB (@tabcomau) March 8, 2023
If the market is anything to go by for Saturday’s Rosehill feature, punters will have their work cut out finding the winner. 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 2023 Coolmore Classic along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Hinged (12) – $8.00
Jockey – James McDonald 57kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Ran the champ, Anamoe, to a half length first up in the Apollo Stakes before another solid performance in the Chipping Norton last start. Ran third in this race last year behind Lighthouse, albeit with 52.5kg, and deserves top weight in this year’s event. Will need some luck from the draw but looks a major player.
2. Annavisto (16) – $5.50F
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 56kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Put a space in them first up at Flemington over 1400m. Second up record isn’t quite as impressive but is a winner and handles the Sydney way of going. Will be sent forward from the wide gate in search of the front and will take a bit of running down.
3. Hope In Your Heart (9) – $7.50
Jockey – Tim Clark 56kg
Trainer – Kerry Parker
Resumed in fine style at Randwick a fortnight ago, when too good for Larkspur Run and co in the Guy Walter. Really found a purple patch last prep, finishing fourth in the Golden Eagle and second in The Gong, and looks to have come back just as well. Will get a nice run behind the speed and can make it two from two this prep here.
4. Mustang Valley (11) – $18
Jockey – Chad Schofield 55kg
Trainer – Andrew Forsman
Talented Kiwi mare who was good last start behind Hope In Your Heart, without much luck. Meets her 3.5kg better here and only has to find 0.8L to turn the tables. Should be able to find cover from the middle draw and can easily figure in the finish. Don’t dismiss.
5. Zougotcha (14) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 54kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
N/A.
6. Mirra Vision (3) – $23
Jockey – Tom Sherry 54kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
Runner-up in this race last year who led and faded late in the Guy Walter behind Hope In Your Heart. Came off a similar effort in the same race last year and ran huge in this. Good gate suits and will be fitter. Include in exotics.
The Coolmore Classic is wide open! Who will come out on top? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/wbeMYdFXFf
— TAB (@tabcomau) March 8, 2023
7. Purplepay (5) – $23
Jockey – Regan Bayliss 53.5kg
Trainer – William Haggas
Newmarket based galloper who finds herself on the other side of the world for a crack at Group 1 success. Drawn to get a nice trip but very hard to line her form up against this lot. Market may be the best lead.
8. Expat (1) – $16
Jockey – Tyler Schiller (a) 53kg
Trainer – Mark Newnham
Led and fought on well behind Electric Girl first up in the Millie Fox. Winner has since been placed at Group 1 level. Was keen on her chances in this race last year when she finished fifth. Will roll forward again from the low draw and be in it for a long way, the last 100m will be the test. Place hope.
9. Ruthless Dame (10) – $7.50
Jockey – Dylan Gibbons (a) 52.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Lightly raced filly who just missed last start in the Surround Stakes. She ran Jacquinot to a neck the start prior which reads well for this. Should land off the pace here and with 52.5kg on her back, will be a big threat late. Include.
10. Sheeza Belter (7) – $13
Jockey – William Pike 52.5kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
Ridden too close first up in the Light Fingers before a much better run last time out in the Surround Stakes. Should be ready to peak here third up and has drawn well. Pike has surrendered a good book of rides to head east and it might be for good reason. Not out of it.
11. Excelida (18) – $21
Jockey – Brett Prebble 52.5kg
Trainer – Ben & JD Hayes
Ran some good late splits last start, despite being beaten 4.2L by Annavisto. Will appreciate the step up in trip now and the weight drop but has come up with a horror draw. Needs luck but can figure if she gets it.
The Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival officially launches on Saturday, with the running of the Group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.
🖥️ Sky Thoroughbred Central
📲 Play Central on the @tabcomau app pic.twitter.com/IOQPMaHId5— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2023
12. Larkspur Run (17) – $41
Jockey – Rachel King 52kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Didn’t do much first up in the Triscay before a much improved effort last time behind Hope In Your Heart. Another who has come up with a terrible gate and may struggle at the end of 1500m. Willing to risk.
13. Yearning (8) – $13
Jockey – Zac Lloyd (a) 52kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Luckless first up in the Guy Walter but sprouted wings late when clear. Usually takes a couple of runs to reach her peak but 1500m second up is ideal and gets the winkers on. Good gate, in form jock, plenty to like.
14. Espiona (6) – $10
Jockey – Michael Dee 51kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Got back in the winners stall last start with a dominant victory at Sandown over 1400m. Was a beaten favourite in this race last year and doesn’t have the best record here at Rosehill, but has drawn well and nobody is riding better than M Dee at present. Each-way hope if she puts her best foot forward.
15. Times Square (13) – $41
Jockey – Jay Ford 51kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Former French galloper new to the Maher/Eustace yard. Like Purplepay, it’s hard to line her form up against this lot and the market may be the best lead. Willing to go around her for now but have to respect the stable.
Annavisto has drawn wide in the G1 Coolmore Classic at #Rosehill. 👀😬
The field:
1. Hinged (12)
2. Annavisto (16)
3. Hope In Your Heart (9)
4. Mustang Valley (11)
5. Zougotcha (14)
6. Mirra Vision (3)
7. Purplepay (5)
8. Expat (1)
9. Ruthless Dame (10)[1/2] pic.twitter.com/J2ZepoDwrQ
— bet365 AUS (@bet365_aus) March 8, 2023
16. More Prophets (15) – $81
Jockey – Brock Ryan 51kg
Trainer – John Thompson
Ran well in the Triscay first up before covering more ground than Burke and Wills last start in the Guy Walter and fighting on gamely. Only issue here is she’s drawn the carpark again and will most likely be in the same boat. If things go her way early she’s going good enough to finish in the money.
17. Toregene (4) – $18
Jockey – Dean Yendall 51kg
Trainer – Matthew Williams
Chased home Espiona in good style first up at Sandown. Winner of four from six prior to that. This is her biggest test to date but has plenty of upside and has drawn well. Either way you can be guaranteed it’ll be expletives or raging horns in the post race interview from Dean Yendall.
18. Pride Of Jenni (2) – $26
Jockey – Robbie Dolan 51kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Another mare who comes through the Espiona Sandown race, where she finished a sound fourth. Form prior was solid in some good races but this looks a big test. Can sneak a place from the low draw with 51kg.
Final Word
It only takes one glance at the form guide to realise this year’s Coolmore Classic is a very competitive race. As the market suggests there are a host of winning chances, but feel we’ve found some value with our top selection, Sheeza Belter.
Who is your pick for the Group 1 Coolmore Classic on Saturday?
Let’s relive the gorgeous grey mare Lighthouse winning last years edition. pic.twitter.com/9u6hbtiYka
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 5, 2023
The Team Snowden trained filly should be ready to peak here third up, after an eye-catching finish in the Surround Stakes last start. The step up to 1500m suits and Pike heads east to stick with her. From the good gate she should land a nice spot midfield and be very strong late.
Fellow three-year-old filly, Ruthless Dame, is flying. She ran Jacquinot to a neck first up at Sandown before going down a pimple in the Surround Stakes last start. She’s another who will trail the speed and be hard to hold out in the final stages of the race.
The Team Hawkes trained, Yearning, was good first up and deserves a mention here. She had no luck on that occasion and was very strong through the line when clear. The 1500m is a tick, she drops 6kg, meeting some rivals far better at the weights here and gets winkers on for the first time.
Hinged will find this easier than her past couple behind Anamoe but has to carry top weight, Hope In Your Heart returned in good style a fortnight ago and Kiwi mare Mustang Valley was luckless in that race and meets Hope In Your Heart 3.5kg better off at the weights.
Coolmore Classic Tip
10. Sheeza Belter – Each-way ($13/$4.00)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
