Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Can family ties deliver Coolmore glory?
Champion trainer Chris Waller has a two-strong hand in Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington, a race many are calling the race of the carnival. Interestingly, both runners, St Gotthard (Snitzel) and Steel Will (I Am Invincible), are siblings to previous Coolmore Stud Stakes winners who were also trained by Waller.
St Gotthard is a full brother to the classy Switzerland, who now stands at Coolmore Stud and served 195 mares in his first season at stud last year. Steel Will, meanwhile, is a half-brother to September Run (Exceed And Excel), who won the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2020 before training on to claim the G1 William Reid Stakes.
St Gotthard | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Both colts look live chances and head into the race in good form. St Gotthard finished second behind Warwoven (Sword Of State) in the G1 Golden Rose Stakes last time out, while Steel Will finished second to race rival Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick.
“I thought St Gotthard’s work was very good,” Waller told media earlier in the week after seeing his colt work.
“He’s a very talented colt, and as the younger sibling of Switzerland he’s ready to make a name for himself. It’s difficult to compare them because they’re quite different types, but they’re both very talented horses.
“He’s (St Gotthard) a very talented colt, and as the younger sibling of Switzerland he’s ready to make a name for himself.” - Chris Waller
“They’ve both also got great natures, which is a big thing when it comes to getting the best out of any racehorse. St Gotthard obviously has a big price tag but that doesn’t worry me too much these days, my team has been in this position a few times before so we know how to handle the occasion.
Steel Will | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“It’s interesting that we also have Steel Will in the race this year, and his sister won the Coolmore for us. So it’s quite a unique position for the stable to be in. Both runners obviously have great genetics, and hopefully they can quinella the race for us.”
As always, it is a strong edition of the race. Satono Glow brings solid form into the contest, while The Next Episode (Snitzel) looks ready to peak after an impressive win in the G2 Danehill Stakes last time out. Under Focus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is another classy and consistent colt who could represent value as a roughie.
Can Sheza Alibi dominate dropping in trip?
The outstanding mare Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) heads to Saturday’s $10 million G1 Golden Eagle for the 4-year-olds at Randwick as a deserved hot favourite. The only minor question is whether she can handle the drop back to 1500 metres after her narrow defeat to Land Legend (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Caulfield Stakes, which was run in track-record time over 2000 metres last time out.
Her regular jockey, Luke Nolen, is unconcerned about the distance change, instead pointing to her versatility and class as reasons for confidence.
Sheza Alibi | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I think she’ll cope with it no worries,” Nolen told RacingNSW.
It came as a shock to many when Sheza Alibi was beaten by Land Legend as a $1.40 chance in the Might And Power Stakes. Nolen was pleased with her performance, despite the defeat.
“I thought she ran exceptionally, I was trying to do everything centimetre perfect mindful it was her first run at 2000 metres and it wasn’t her grand final,” he said.
“We just came up short but she ran creditably and the other horse had to run a track record to beat her.
Luke Nolen | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s had a couple of very easy pieces of work and she seems to have sharpened up well,” he said.
“She’s a wonderful racehorse. She’s versatile, she’s willing to do anything for me.
“She’s (Sheza Alibi) a wonderful racehorse. She’s versatile, she’s willing to do anything for me.” - Luke Nolen
“I’m sure she’ll travel with purpose and I’ll be able to do what I like from that gate.”
Beyond the favourite, the field is an even one packed with quality gallopers. The three-time Group 1 winner Beiwacht (Bivouac), the classy and consistent Skyhook (Written Tycoon) and dual Group 1 winner Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) all bring strong credentials. A potential blowout hope is Mr Miller (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), who could finish strongly if the race unfolds at the expected strong tempo.
Quick Finish takes on the boys with history in sight
Taking on the G1 Victoria Derby was not originally part of the McEvoy stables plans for the exciting staying filly Quick Finish (Grunt {NZ}), who has been in strong form and won her last three starts over 1500, 1800 and 2000 metres.
Co-trainer Tony McEvoy seriously considered the Derby only after Quick Finish produced a strong performance to win the G3 Ethereal Stakes over 2000 metres, doing so in a manner that suggested she had plenty more to offer and possessed the family credentials to relish further ground.
Quick Finish | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"Just looking at the form coming in, she ran faster than the boys when she won the Ethereal," McEvoy told Racing And Sports.
"She survived the pressure that day, and that gives us the confidence she can stay the trip, because she won't get anywhere near that sort of pressure over the 2500 (metres).
"To our eye there doesn't appear to be a standout colt (or gelding), and we feel there could be a standout filly from Sydney (Proxima Dea).
"All these horses are on trial at the trip. Who knows who is going to run it the best, but we've got a very fit filly who is in form and for $3 million, why not."
"Who knows who is going to run it the best, but we've got a very fit filly (Quick Finish) who is in form and for $3 million, why not." - Tony McEvoy
While a filly contesting the Derby is unusual, the stable could still have ambitions of running Quick Finish in Thursday’s fillies’ classic over 2500 metres. Fillies have historically backed up from Saturday’s racing by contesting the G2 Wakeful Stakes before progressing to the Oaks.
"Horses for years have run in the Wakeful (run on Saturday over 2000m) into the Oaks, and this is just a little bit of a different tact," McEvoy said.
"We'll certainly be considering it, for sure."
Tony McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Derby looks an even edition, with no clear standout. If the classy Maurice (Jpn) colt Cormier handles the seven-day backup and the trip to Melbourne, he looks one of the hardest to beat, bringing Group 1 form into the race.
Murshidi (Maurice {Jpn}) also looks suited to a staying test, while True Rebel (Rebel Dane) arrives with winning form. Stormy Marco (Wootton Bassett {GB}) must also contend with the backup, as does favourite Cormier, but he brings similar formlines and a touch of class.
Jimmysstar draws Brown north for the Russell Balding
The introduction of the Golden Eagle and the lucrative $3 million G2 Russell Balding Stakes to the Sydney spring carnival has created a scheduling clash with Derby Day at Flemington, presenting jockeys with some difficult choices.
Victorian jockey Ethan Brown is happy to sacrifice Derby Day rides to head north and partner one of his favourite horses, four-time Group 1 winner Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), in the Russell Balding Stakes.
Brown said he had been offered several rides at Flemington’s Victoria Derby meeting but answered the call to ride Jimmysstar.
Jimmysstar | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"Melbourne is where you want to be but I also want to be on Jimmysstar's back too," Brown told Racenet.
"I had to give up a few here in Melbourne but Jimmy is Jimmy. He's (Jimmysstar) been very good to me so I'm very happy to go up and ride him.
"He's (Jimmysstar) been very good to me so I'm very happy to go up and ride him." - Ethan Brown
"He'll be a great chance in a race like the Russell Balding."
The Russell Balding continues the day’s theme of deep, competitive fields packed with quality. Jimmysstar brings the class factor, but former G1 Golden Slipper winner Marhoona (Snitzel) looms as a major threat, while Grafterburners (Graff) was brilliant when winning the G2 Sydney Stakes last time out.
Headwall (Dream Ahead {USA}) is another to consider after finishing less than three-quarters of a length behind Tempted (Street Boss {USA}), Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) and Joliestar (Zoustar) in the G1 The Everest, arguably the strongest form reference heading into the race.
Ethan Brown | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
In-form Unleeshing takes aim at Group 1 glory
An in-form trainer, an in-form ownership group and an in-form mare can be a potent combination and that could prove the case for Bjorn Baker-trained Unleeshing (Dundeel {NZ}), who races in the MyRacehorse colours and tackles Saturday’s G1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington.
Unleeshing arrives on the back of an impressive win in the G3 Angst Stakes, having previously scored in BM94 grade. Both victories came over 1600 metres, the same distance she faces again on Saturday.
It was the manner of her Angst Stakes win, charging home from well back to score by just under a length, that convinced Baker to step her up to Group 1 company.
Unleeshing | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"She's a mare that we've always had a lot of time for," Baker told Racing And Sports.
"She's always shown a heap of ability, and it was good to see her win last time.
"It's a massive leap to be taking on the Empire Rose, but she's got a lovely racing pattern, get back, settle and when they quicken up, she can definitely hit the line.
"She had to win the Angst, and win well, which she did, so that gives us a bit of confidence to head down."
Bjorn Baker | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Jason Collett, who partnered the mare to victory in the Angst Stakes, heads to Melbourne on Saturday to ride Unleeshing again as she chases her first Group 1 success.
It will be no easy task against a quality line-up of mares. Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel), the last-start winner of the G1 Toorak Handicap, brings plenty of class, while Surfin’ Bird (The Autumn Sun) is an emerging talent. Sass Appeal (So You Think {NZ}) has also been targeted at the race and looks ready to peak under Damian Lane.
