Melbourne filly Coral Coast can emulate the deeds of last year’s winner Yankee Rose if she can win the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Ace High, above, is the favourite for the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Yankee Rose became the first filly to win the Spring Carnival Group 1 for the three year olds and Caulfield trainer Stuart Webb believes his filly Coral Coast has the stamina to test the colts and geldings over the 2000m this year.
“Barely any (fillies) have ever contested it,” Webb told racing.com.
“She’s a good staying filly and she gets weight off – she’s a big filly.
“The 2000 (metres) will be more suitable and it’s a great chance to get some more black type against her name.”
Webb also feels that Coral Coast wasn’t at home on the Rosehill track when a last start third behind Ace High and Sanctioned in the Group 3 $200,000 James Boag’s Premium Gloaming Stakes (1800m) on September 23 and believes the switch to Randwick will be in her favour.
“Rosehill definitely didn’t suit. She really hit a flat spot coming to the turn and I thought ‘She’s going to run last’ and then she straightened up and knuckled down and she was great late,” Webb said.
“I reckon three-quarters of the fillies that get out to a trip (in early spring) can’t stay but I think she can.
“She’s well bred and a good type. Nice and sound and with a good constitution so I hope we’re on the right path.”
Coral Coast will meet the front running Ace High and the James Cummings trained Sanctioned again in the Spring Champion Stakes.
Webb has also accepted with Coral Coast in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Saturday but his first preference is to head back to Sydney.
“Our intention has been to run in the Spring Champion, especially after what she showed us in the Gloaming (Stakes when placed third),” Webb said.
Coral Coast is the only filly in the Spring Champion Stakes and has drawn barrier six with Tim Clark replacing Brenton Avdulla who rides the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained Sully.
Webb is hoping Coral Coast performs up to expectations to give him confidence as he aims the So You Think filly towards the Group 1 $1m Kennedy Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 9.
Coral Coast is rated a $16 chance at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Spring Champion Stakes with the Gloaming Stakes winner Ace High sitting at the top of the market order at $3.40.
