The Coolmore Classic 2014 is an extremely open betting race, but leading trainer Gai Waterhouse is very confident that Sweet Idea can give her a fifth victory in the Group 1 event at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Sweet Idea is chasing her maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow. Photo by: Steve Hart
Waterhouse has previously won the Coolmore Classic with three-year-old fillies Assertive Lass (1997), Bollinger (2003), Shamekha (2004) and Tuesday Joy (2007) and she believes that Sweet Idea is just as good as her previous winners of the handicap event.
Sweet Idea returned to the races, following a three month suspension for bleeding in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m), with back-to-back wins in the Wyong Magic Millions Stakes (1200m) and Gold Coast Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) before starting her 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign with a win in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 22.
The Snitzel filly was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on March 8 and finished a disappointing seventh, after fading badly in the final stages of the race, but Waterhouse has instructed punters to forget the run; blaming the Warwick Farm surface for the poor performance of the classy filly.
“She is absolutely thriving,” Waterhouse told Sky Racing HQ this morning.
“She didn’t like Warwick Farm, but she has raced well at Rosehill over the years.
“She is quality filly.
“I have won the race a few times with good three-year-old fillies and she falls right into that category.”
Sweet Idea will be returning to Rosehill Gardens for the first time since she finished third behind Overreach and Sidestep in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) during the 2013 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and has an excellent record at the track; finishing second behind Criterion in the Lidoran Group Plate (1100m) during the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival before taking out the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) on April 6.
Waterhouse is yet to decide on a major target for the three-year-old during The Championships at Royal Randwick, but she has been included in the nominations for the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m), the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) and the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).
Sweet Idea is currently available at Coolmore Classic odds of $14; with Catkins ($4) still a clear favourite from Royal Descent ($10) and Steps In Time ($10) in the betting market for the Group 1 event.
