Four last-start winners take aim at Coolmore Stud Stakes

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

With five previous wins in the race, Chris Waller now eyes a sixth title as his stars, Switzerland and Gatsby’s, go head-to-head with a fierce field—including four last-start winners. As anticipation builds, questions linger: can Waller’s duo hold off the in-form rivals, or will an underdog emerge as last year’s surprise winner, Ozzmosis (Zoustar), did?

Waller has a strong pair with Switzerland and Gatsby’s

Switzerland (Snitzel) comes into the Coolmore Stud S. after winning the G2 Roman Consul S. over 1200 metres last start. At two, he won his first three in succession before missing in the G1 Golden Slipper. First up at three, he ran ninth in the G2 Run To The Rose and was given a short break before the G2 Roman Consul S. Successful stallions Brazen Beau and Zoustar both won the G2 Roman Consul S. before winning the G1 Coolmore Stud S.

Gallery: Chris Waller's live chances in Saturday's G1 Coolmore Stud S.

“He's right up there with the best of them, as simple as that,” Waller told racenet.com.au on Monday about Switzerland. “A lot of the other colts have announced themselves in the race, he's shown he's certainly got some pretty good talent. He's a quick horse but he does things right. He settles, he's pretty versatile, he's good enough to win the race."

Switzerland was purchased by Coolmore for $1.5million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from Arrowfield Stud, and he’s the first foal of Blame (USA) mare Ms Bad Behavior (Can) who won the G3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. and is a half-sister to Listed winners One Bad Boy (Can) (Twirling Candy {USA}) and Blessed Truly (Can) (Souper Speed {USA}). Ms Bad Behavior is out of a multiple Listed winner in Cumulonimble (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}).

“When you buy horses at the yearling sales or you breed horses you want to try and win a Golden Slipper, Caulfield Guineas… a stallion-making race and the Coolmore has probably been the number one race because not all horses are ready to go at two.

“But at three they are, there's no hiding, and all the horses get the right chance to be here at three, they've matured, although it's still only spring it's a clash of the titans.

“Barrier draws are taken out of the equation in the Coolmore, which is what I like, when barrier draws come out and it's cruel some days in sprint races around a bend but when they're running up the Flemington straight every horse gets their chance and the best horse wins.”

Waller has won the Coolmore Stud S. five times with Zoustar (2013), Brazen Beau (2014), Japonisme (Choisir) (2015), September Run (Exceed And Excel) (2020) and Home Affairs (2021).

Gatsby’s (Snitzel) comes into the race with mixed form having run fifth in the G2 Roman Consul S. last start. He was a winner at two and won the Listed Rosebud first-up at three. Sold by Vinery Stud for $220,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, he was purchased by Aramco Racing. Gatsby’s is a full brother to Group 2 winner Letzbeglam and stakes placed winner Snazz ‘N’ Charm. His dam, Miss Charming (USA) (Forestry {USA}), is a winning half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Tout Charmant (USA) (Slewvescent {USA}).

Switzerland leads a group of four last start winners heading into the Coolmore, with the others being Bittercreek (Snitzel), First Settler (Written Tycoon), and Bellatrix Star (Star Witness). Historically, this hasn’t been a major factor with only one of the past five winners being a last start winner, although four of the last five winners had won or placed at their start prior to the Coolmore. The only who missed was Home Affairs, who ran ninth in The Everest prior to winning the Coolmore.

Schillaci Stakes victor Bellatrix Star

Te Akau Racing’s Ben Gleeson pointed out a simple fact for his 3-year-old filly Bellatrix Star. “A 3-year-old filly hasn’t won the Schillaci in over 20 years, and now she’s one of the top three rated 3-year-olds in the race. It’s a huge credit to how far she’s come,” said Gleeson. The last 3-year-old filly to win the G2 Schillaci S. was Haliberry (Red Ransom {USA}) in 2003, and she didn’t run in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.

“(Bellatrix Star) is on an upwards trajectory, so hopefully she’ll peak on Saturday. Her coming over from New Zealand was about seeing what level she could get to. She had a huge rap in New Zealand but had to get her confidence back.” Bellatrix Star had five starts at two in New Zealand, winning twice including the G2 Eclipse S., but in her other three starts, she was beaten by future Group 1 winner Velocious (Written Tycoon). Her final start at two was in the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO, where she ran fourth.

“Once she got her first run out of the way, running nicely for midfield, she improved leaps and bounds. A wet track helped (Listed Cap d’Antibes S. win) and it was a confidence booster, then she’s won on top of the ground since. She keeps thriving. If she can step up again against the colts, there’s no reason she can’t run in the top three.”

Bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis with Fortuna Racing for NZ$80,000 from Phoenix Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, she is the third foal of unplaced mare Alana’s Party (Exceed And Excel) who is a daughter of Group 1 winner The Party Stand (NZ) (Thorn Park).

And as far as her biggest rivals for Saturdays, Gleeson said, “The two Yulong colts will be hard to beat. It’s a good year for colts.” The two Yulong-owned colts are Growing Empire (Zoustar) and First Settler (Written Tycoon). Growing Empire has been hugely consistent, with four wins, two seconds and a last start third in the G1 The Everest to his name.

First Settler comes off the G2 Danehill Stakes

Yulong-owned First Settler won the G2 Danehill S. last start, and co-trainer Mick Price told justhorseracing.com on Tuesday, “I think that it will be alright, because with spring 3-year-olds, you can do too much with them. I don’t usually do four weeks between runs with a colt, but I think that’s a better way to go than to have run him in the Gothic and keep running him and running him, because from the time he had his first start to this race, I think he’s only had 17 days off.

“I’m trying to time his run in when I was originally going to run in the Poseidon and then the Gothic, but he was so well, I had to run in the Danehill. I’m glad I did, because he won and he’s now a Group 2-winner, which basically finds himself a home at stud and now we’re after the Group 1.

“The Coolmore’s like the Golden Slipper for 3-year-olds and the race for a potential stallion. Traffic Warden, Switzerland, and I suppose Growing Empire, they’ll turn up. It’s a good race. It’s always a good race and it finds a colt a home at stud.”

First Settler was sold by Baramul Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $750,000 to Yulong Investments and Mick Price Racing. He is the third foal, third winner and second stakes winner for his dam Graciousness (Street Cry {Ire}), with his older sister being Listed winner Vienna Princess (Snitzel). Graciousness is a winning half-sister to four stakes winners including Group 1 winner and sire Casino Prince and Group 3 winner Tagus (Encosta De Lago).

Bittercreek part of a Snitzel trio

Champion sire Snitzel has three runners in the Coolmore, with last-start G3 Red Anchor S. winner Bittercreek among them. Bittercreek has only raced in black type company with all his seven starts for two wins and three placings being in stakes races. As well as the G3 Red Anchor S., he won the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic at two and ran second in the G1 JJ Atkins S. to Champion 2YO in Australia Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}).

“He’s a high-class, tough colt. I think this year is an exceptional field of quality 3-year-olds, but he deserves his spot and will not disappoint us,” said co-trainer Troy Corstens.

Malua Racing and Baystone Farm purchased Bittercreek for $375,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Arrowfield Stud. Baystone Farm prepared him for the Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale but he was passed in, and a syndicate formed instead.

He is the third stakes winner for his dam Rose of Cimmaron (Bite The Bullet {USA}) who won twice including in Sydney. Her other two stakes winners are Group 3 winner and G1 All-Aged S. placed Siege Of Quebec (Fastnet Rock) and Group 3 winner and G1 Golden Rose-placed Bull Point. Rose of Cimmaron is a sister to Group 3 winner Mica’s Pride, dam of four stakes winners led by four-time Group 1 winner Criterion (Sebring) and Group 1 winner Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock).