3 minute read
The G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes has earned the reputation as the ‘stallion making race’ and this year’s edition to be run this Saturday at Flemington has attracted a star-studded field of three-year-old contenders. It’s hard to argue with such a statement when you look through the list of past winners and see some of our best sires such as Encosta De Lago, Merchant Navy, Flying Artie, Brazen Beau and Zoustar among the names.
Champion trainer Chris Waller has prepared five previous Coolmore Stud Stakes winners, and this year will present a two-pronged attack with Switzerland and Gatsby's.
Growing Empire from the powerhouse Ciaron Maher team is the current favourite for the $2 million feature following his last start third placing in The Everest.
While a Coolmore Stud Stakes win sets a colt's future up as a stallion, fillies have a good record in the race with nine of the fairer sex taking the title since 2000.
This year Lady Of Camelot and Bellatrix Star will look to emulate the likes of In Secret, September Run and Sunlight as fillies who have won.
It promises to be one of the great races of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and we've provided our thoughts on each runner that will take on the famous Flemington straight in the 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes. (Prices current at time of publish)
1. Growing Empire (9)
Price: $3.50
The Ciaron Maher-trained son of Zoustar started his career in infamous fashion by dropping his jockey and going through the outside fence after finishing a nose second on debut.
At the exciting colt's second start he won a Listed race at Moonee Valley by two lengths before braining his rivals in the G3 Breeders' Stakes at Morphettville.
He was sent for a spell after that and returned with an effortless win in the G3 McNeil Stakes where he came from off the speed before proving too strong in the Listed Poseidon Stakes over 1100m here.
His most recent two starts have seen him take on older horses and he's more than held his own.
He was massive in the G1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes two starts back when driving to the front and looking the winner only to be picked off in the shadows of the post.
Last start he fought bravely in The Everest but was no match late for the best sprinters in the country, Bella Nipotina and Giga Kick when finishing a very good third.
Mark Zahra grows to 10 feet tall and is strong as an ox at this time of year and will reacquaint himself with the colt who he shares a perfect record with.
Back to his own age group and with the ability to put himself into a race, he looks extremely hard to beat.
2. Coleman (6)
Price: $15.00
The Matt Laurie-trained colt gave a good account of himself first-up when finishing 1.4 lengths sixth in the G1 Moir Stakes.
He wanted to over-race second-up in the Manikato Stakes but still managed to run on quite well to finish three lengths sixth to Southport Tycoon.
The son of Pierata went to Rosehill last start where after a slow start in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes, he powered home to finish two lengths second to Switzerland.
He'll be at peak fitness now and did finish a head second in the G1 Golden Slipper when fourth-up last preparation.
He's been well beaten by some of his key rivals and is untested down the straight, so I'm happy to be against him.
3. Traffic Warden (3)Price: $4.20
The Godolphin colt ran well last preparation with a win in the G2 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes over 1400m here and a heartbreaking nose second in the G1 ATC Sires' Produce at Randwick.
However, in a frightening development for his rivals, he's come back an even better horse this time in work.
The son of Street Boss returned in impressive fashion when storming home to win the G2 Run To The Rose.
Last start he gave his superstar stablemate Broadsiding an almighty fight to finish a head second in the G1 Golden Rose.
That was five weeks ago so he's had a jumpout down the straight to keep him up to the mark and he looked very good cruising into second.
The drop back in trip is a slight query but he'll be finding the line and looks like one of the major players.
4. Bittercreek (13)Price: $35.00
The Corstens & Larkin-trained colt ran into the talented Broadsiding last preparation on two occasions, most notably in the G1 J.J. Atkins where he finished second.
He looked to be run off his feet when resuming in the G2 Danehill Stakes over 1100m here before running on strongly late.
The son of Snitzel produced a career best performance last start when powering through the line to win the G3 Red Anchor Stakes over this distance at The Valley.
He'll strip fitter third-up and looks well drawn out wide, but he needs to raise the bar substantially to be testing the very best in this race.
5. Switzerland (8)
Price: $6.00
The Chris Waller-trained colt started his career in breathtaking fashion with three wins in a row including the G2 Todman Stakes.
Unfortunately, he raced flat in the Golden Slipper as one of the main fancies and was sent for a spell.
The son of Snitzel recently returned in the Run To The Roses and carried on like a cheap watch, running his race before the gates had even crashed back.
If there was any doubt that he could show his best again, he put that to bed last start when running on strongly and putting his rivals to the sword for a two-length victory in the Roman Consul Stakes.
While he has never raced down the Flemington straight, he did partake in a recent jumpout where he looked to be cruising.
The world's best jockey James 'J-Mac' McDonald takes the ride which adds a length or two.
Being owned by Coolmore, you know this colt will be tuned up to perfection to win this race.
6. First Settler (10)Price: $14.00
The Price & Kent Jnr-trained colt started his career in excellent fashion with back-to-back wins at Caulfield and over 1100m up the straight here.
He was then sent for a short freshen-up and tasted defeat for the first and only time when resuming in the Poseidon Stakes.
The son of Written Tycoon gave a good account of himself and worked home strongly but was just beaten fair and square by Growing Empire.
He bounced back to winning form last start in the Danehill Stakes where despite being in the worst going, he fought gamely to win by a nose.
While he's proven he races well down the straight, he is yet to tick off the 1200m box and Growing Empire clearly had his measure.
7. Bodyguard (2)
Price: $46.00
The Peter Snowden-trained colt won down the straight on debut before winning the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude at his next start.
However, since then he has failed to deliver and finished well down the track in the Danehill Stakes last start so I'm happy to put a line through him.
8. Gatsby's (7)Price: $23.00
The second of Chris Waller's runners kicked off his preparation in fine style with a strong effort in the Listed Rosebud to win by 1.8 lengths.
He prefers tracks with the give in them which he proved with disappointing efforts in the G3 San Domenico Stakes and last start in the Roman Consul Stakes which were both Good 4 surfaces.
Unless a large downpour comes on race day, I couldn't entertain him in this year's Coolmore Stud Stakes.
9. Stoli Bolli (5)Price: $34.00
The Team Hayes gelding is deep into his first preparation but is by no means slowing down.
He was a touch lucky to win two starts back over 1200m at The Valley when one of his key rivals encountered traffic issues, but it was still a very good performance.
Last start the son of Deep Field tried hard after racing wide in the Listed Gothic Stakes to finish 1.9 lengths third.
He would need to improve significantly to feature given the massive rise in class he faces.
10. Yoshinobu (1)Price: $41.00
The Neasham & Archibald-trained son of Written Tycoon kicked off this preparation with a maiden win at Wyong and followed it up by claiming a Benchmark 64 Handicap at Newcastle.
He surprised last start when giving a sight in the Roman Consul Stakes before being run down to finish 2.2 lengths third.
While that was a strong effort and he looked good in a recent jumpout win here, this is considerably harder and looks beyond him at this stage of his career.
11. Enriched (14)Price: $41.00
The Michael Freedman-trained colt ran home strongly along the fence to win his maiden first-up this preparation before not getting clear air and finishing well back in the G3 Up And Coming Stakes second-up.
He bounced back to form last start in the Danehill Stakes where he fought bravely to finish a close third.
The son of I Am Invincible will appreciate the rise to six furlongs, but this looks beyond him.
12. Gallant Son (12)Price: $51.00
The Moody & Coleman-trained son of Written Tycoon looked a future star when winning on debut at Sale by a massive six lengths.
He went for a break following that run and returned recently at The Valley where he was unlucky not to defeat Stoli Bolli after being badly held up at a crucial time.
The colt may not have enjoyed the heavy conditions last start in the Gothic Stakes when finishing 2.1 lengths fourth and he'll strip fitter third-up, but I'm suggesting that race isn't the right form line for this.
13. Lady Of Camelot (4)Price: $9.00
The 2024 Golden Slipper winner returned with a strong effort in the Moir Stakes where she settled handy and produced plenty of fight to finish 0.7L third.
She produced a solid performance second-up when once again taking on the older horses in the G2 Shorts.
The daughter of Written Tycoon produced a cracking effort last start in The Everest when charging through the line to finish 1.4 lengths fourth, hot on the hammer of Growing Empire.
She was a month between runs there so will strip fitter and she will love returning to racing against her own age.
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained filly will roll forward for Tim Clark and give this a serious shake.
14. Bellatrix Star (11)
Price: $8.50
The Mark Walker-trained filly has been in cracking form since arriving in Australia from New Zealand.
After working home strongly first-up in the Quezette Stakes, the daughter of Star Witness loved the wet conditions over 1100m here to win the Cap D'antibes Stakes.
Two starts back she built momentum on the turn at The Valley to slingshot past her rivals to easily win the G3 Scarborough Stakes.
She's clearly still on the up as shown by her dominant performance against older horses in the G2 Schillaci Stakes last start where she stormed home to win.
Gun jockey Blake Shinn takes the ride and will give her every chance from a good barrier.
The JudgementI have plenty of time for Growing Empire and I'll be with him in the 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
The Zoustar colt has had the measure of his own age this preparation with dominant wins in the McNeil Stakes and Poseidon Stakes.
He then showed his class when taking on Australia's best sprinters in the Manikato Stakes where he went within a whisker of winning and then The Everest where he gave a massive sight before finishing third.
He'll love dropping back to his own age and gets one of the best jockeys in the business aboard who is undefeated on him in three rides.
Any thought that he was over the top was squashed on Monday with a slick piece of work.
He's a star and I'm happy to support him.
Selections:
1st – Growing Empire (1)
2nd – Bellatrix Star (14)
3rd – Traffic Warden (3)
4th – Lady Of Camelot (13)
