Coldplay is hot in Stakes
The strength of the $100,00 fillies and mares CAL Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa on December 10 was given a major boost on Saturday.
Ellerslie wins by Coldplay in the Group III Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) and Rising Shot in a lower grade race encouraged respective connections to label the Group II Te Rapa weight-for-age feature as next-up goals.
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Savabeel mare Coldplay ridden by Craig Grylls was too good for her rivals overtaking second placed Ronchi close to the line with an eyecatching late burst giving Stylish Attack third.
The mare’s breeder Gary Wallace no longer needs convincing Coldplay is above average.
He said the first indication that the horse might be above average came via a phone conversation with [part owner] Mark Chittick during the yearling sales where he said trainer Murray Baker was singing her praises.
“He said Murray had been telling them about his next really good horse, I said, ‘that’s great, what is it’ and he said, ‘it’s yours’.”
Coldplay’s first few trials had Wallace convinced that his trainer might be slightly delusional. “She did nothing and I thought Murray didn’t know what he was on about,” he said.
Come race day though and things were different, Coldplay followed a first up third with a win and two starts later took the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes. For the remainder of the season she filled a frustrating run of fourth and fifth placings in Group company before her final run of the season in the New Zealand Oaks.
“We gave her a good break after the Oaks and Murray kept saying, ‘these Savabeels get better and better’,” Wallace said. “Even though we were in Town Hall company on Saturday I was confident she would perform well, she looked magnificent. I take my hat off to those guys [Baker and co-trainer Andrew Forsman] they know their business!”
“I’ve been in it a long time and I love it, it’s a journey and it is lovely to have a win like that,” Wallace said.
Stylish Attack trained by Graeme Hughes at Cambridge, impresses as a mare likely to make her presence felt in some good races over summer.
‘‘It was a nice run,’’ jockey Michael Coleman said.
‘‘We got held up a little turning in but she found the line nicely.’’
Hughes will test his $1,000 yearling purchase in black-type company again but he’s not 100 per cent sure when.
‘‘I’m not sure where we will go next,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ll just see how she does.
‘‘Her main ambition right through this campaign has been the Karaka Stayers Cup (2200m) on Karaka Million night and that’s still the goal.
‘‘She’ll certainly get over more ground.
‘‘I hope we can carry on and get some more black-type.’’
Hughes owns the Tavistock mare whose ‘‘presence and style’’ first encouraged him to bid on the Gerry Harvey-bred youngster out of the Westbury Stud principal’s yearling draft.
‘‘I just liked what Hughes said.
The CAL Isuzu remains a possibility for Stylish Attack.
Harvey was also responsible for breeding Rising Shot and he still owns the impressive Red Giant mare trained at Te Rapa by David Greene.
The 4-year-old has won three of her last four and overcame several above-average rivals to claim the Rising Stars Championship Qualifier 1400 ridden by Kelly Mcculloch.
The home track CAL Isuzu is being considered as a forerunner to the Rising Stars Championship Final over 1500m on Boxing Day.
Jockey Mathew Cameron was more than happy with an exhibition gallop between races abaord Volkstok’n’barrell.
‘‘It was a top gallop, he will tighten up nicely .’’ I saw,’’