Japonisme upstaged a disappointing Exosphere to take out the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington this afternoon.
Glyn Schofield was delighted to take out the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Exosphere started the Coolmore Stud Stakes as a dominant favourite and he was settled in the second half of the field before he loomed as the winner when jockey James McDonald asked him for an extra effort, but he was never able to hit the front.
Glyn Schofield rode Japonisme patiently in the second half of the field, but he was able to release the San Domenico Stakes winner up the inside and he flew home in the final stages to record an upset win from Keen Array and Counterattack.
Japonisme finished third behind Exosphere and Zoutenant in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 3 and he was available at big Coolmore Stud Stakes odds, but Schofield said that he still went into the race with plenty of confidence.
“He trialed really well down the straight a week and a half ago and I was pretty confident coming into today’s race even though he was not in the market,” Schofield said.
“He just travelled so sweet in the run behind the leader.
“It was soft in the end.
“First run this prep he beat the Slipper winner, so he has a few big scalps again.
“Chris Waller has done it again, he has produce another marvellous performance to win another big win.”
Chris Waller took out the past two Coolmore Stud Stakes’ with Zoustar and Brazen Beau and he was clearly delighted to claim another victory in the stallion-making race.
Waller said that he expected Japonisme to run well in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, but he revealed that he had such a big opinion of Exosphere that he did not really contemplate taking out another Group 1 victory.
“We never built ourselves up because we have such huge respect for Exosphere,” Waller said.
“We always have respect for the Flemington straight and it is a race like non other a Flemington straight race.
“I think that you have to prepare well for it, which we did, he has been down here and he had a nice quite jump out, which has been a proven formula for our horses in the past three years of the race.
“We hadn’t changed anything and I think that is a big help knowing what works and what doesn’t.
“It was a great ride, it was patient ride and we got a great result.
“I don’t stop pinching myself and I am very appreciative of the position that we are in.”
Waller has now won eight of the 20 Group 1 races that have been held in Australia this season, while Schofield joined Hugh Bowman on top of the jockeys list with his fourth victory.
