Coolangatta has turn into the third three-year-old filly previously 25 years to take out the pure pace check of the autumn, the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
And within the course of, she upstaged growth sprinter and scorching favourite Nature Strip.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Coolangatta upstages the Nature Strip at Flemington.
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Main coach Chris Waller was providing no excuses following the first-up defeat of Nature Strip, admitting the world champion sprinter was barely off his recreation.
Beginning a $1.95 favorite, the gelding jumped well and made the run, however he was beneath strain with 200m to go, battling away to complete sixth and simply over two lengths from winner Coolangatta.
“He’s 5 to 10 % off his finest,” Waller advised Channel 7 after the race.
“There’s nothing to cover, it is a disgrace.
“He had an excellent preparation.”
Waller stated the suggestions from jockey James McDonald was that Nature Strip didn’t benefit from the agency observe and that might have contributed to his under par return.
Nonetheless, the horse will likely be completely vetted earlier than racing once more and Waller says he’s unlikely to make one other look over 1000 meters.
“He felt the bottom and perhaps he’s in search of extra rain, that’s the solely factor we are able to say at this stage,” Waller stated.
“We’ll do exams to see if every little thing is correct internally.
“I doubt you will notice him run over 1000 meters within the autumn, he’ll go straight to 1200 meters however provided that he’s 100 %.
“A very powerful factor is that he appears to have pulled up effectively.
“Let’s hope there may be one other couple of runs in him but.”
With Jamie Kah aboard, Coolangatta ($9) scored by a protracted head from I Want I Win ($8.50) with Bella Nipotina ($14) a short-half-head away third.
Coolangatta was one in every of three sprinters Ciaron Maher and David Eustace saddled up in Saturday’s race and Eustace stated the steady had seen a much bigger and stronger filly this time round.
He stated finally the steady wish to journey with Coolangatta to Royal Ascot later within the yr.
“She’s heavier and we thought she’d improved from the spring to now, and from two to a few,” he stated.
“From right here the dream could be Royal Ascot for everybody concerned. She’s proven she likes the straight and I feel everybody within the group could be eager to go there.
“The place she goes subsequent, I am undecided however finally we would love to offer {that a} crack.”
– with RAS NewsWire
