Written by Paul Vettise
Images courtesy of Dan Himbrechts for AAP Photos
Colette (Hallowed Crown) has come from left field to be at the head of the market for the G1 Australian Oaks, but rider James McDonald signalled words of caution following their G3 TAB Adrian Knox S. victory.
The Godolphin filly broke her maiden at Newcastle in February and then came off a BM64 win before comfortably putting away her rivals at Randwick on Saturday.
“To be fair, they were the B-graders compared to the Vinery last week, but she has done it in style. She’s going to have to lift again for mine though,” McDonald said.
The G1 Vinery Stud S. was won by Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt) from the fast-closing New Zealand filly Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel).
However, Colette is a progressive type and she could do no more than complete her hat-trick and she also has a stout pedigree to back her claims over the classic trip of 2400 metres.
She is a daughter of the unraced Libretto (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) and she is a half-sister to the Group-winning European stayers Wareed (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) and Truly A Dream (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}).
Staying forces
Their dam Truly Special (Ire) (Caerleon {USA}) was also a middle distance Group winner and other staying forces in the pedigree include the G1 Irish Oaks winner Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and the champion Irish stayer Honolulu (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).
Colette followed the leading division one off the fence to the turn and once McDonald pushed her between runners she powered clear to beat Werther’s sister Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Quintessa (Pierro).
Colette wins the G3 TAB Adrian Knox S. | Image courtesy of Dan Himbrechts for AAP Photos
“The team have done a great job with her, we’ve treated her with kid gloves with a long range plan to target an Adrian Knox, which can suit a filly on the way through like her,” trainer James Cummings said.
“She might be an interesting addition to the Oaks next week if we are very, very pleased with her in the next seven days. James got on her and did a lap on her and he went past me the second lap and he asked me ‘where’s the rest of her.’
“She might be an interesting addition to the Oaks next week if we are very, very pleased with her in the next seven days." - James Cummings
“I said don’t you worry about that, there’s an engine in there. The improvement she’s showed since we poured the work into her has been amazing.
“The gap between the runs has been important and she’s enjoyed that. Now, she’s at the serious end and potentially a back-up next week and she looks like she’s got the constitution to handle it.”
