Owner Michael Tabart admits that Japanese mare Hana’s Goal faces a tough assignment in the 2014 Coolmore Classic, but remains confident that his galloper is up to the standard required to be competitive in the Group 1 event at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Craig Williams will partner Japanese mare Hana's Gold in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Hana’s Goal was allocated a weight of 56 kilograms for the Coolmore Classic and will need plenty of luck in running after she was allocated barrier 15 for her Australian racing debut this weekend.
Tadbart told Sky Racing HQ that he was hoping Hana’s Goal would get into the Coolmore Classic field with a lighter weight, but believes that the daughter of Shanghai Jell can be competitive if the Rosehill Gardens surface remains dry.
“She has 56 kilograms and she is a Group 3 winner, so they have obviously respected the Japanese form,” Tabart said.
“We were hoping that she would be around the 53 or 54 mark, but Red Tracer not being included in the acceptances pushed the weight up.
“She is not a big horse and with barrier 15; if it starts raining then you could not have picked a worse scenario.
“If it is a good track, I think that she is up to do it and we think that is up to the Doncaster, but she is really going to have to put in a good run.”
Hana’s Goal will be racing outside Japan for the first time in her career, but Tabart has been happy with the way that she has settled into her new environment in Sydney.
Tabart said that the five-year-old looks better than ever heading into the Coolmore Classic and will go into the Group 1 event back to her regular racing weight.
“She is looking really good,” Tabart said.
“She is actually looking a lot better than we expected and if anything she looks better than she usually does in Japan.
“I am really happy with the way that she looks.
“I weighed her this morning and she was 436.5 and in Japan she is normally 430.
“She is not a very good traveler and, even though it is only 45 minutes, on the float ride to Rosehill she will probably lose a little bit.
“Her racing weight would be about 430 I would say.”
Hana’s Goal is currently rated a $17 chance in the Coolmore Classic betting market at Ladbrokes; with Catkins ($4) remaining a clear favourite from stablemate Royal Descent ($10) and market mover Steps In Time ($10).
Punters who back the winner of the Coolmore Classic at Ladbrokes can immediately access their winnings thanks to the world exclusive Ladbrokes Card.
