Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m)
The third Group One on the card is the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), which has become the premier sprinting three-year-old race on the Australian calendar.
We’ve seen some high-rating performances on the Racing and Sports scale in the past ten years with top colts Flying Artie, Home Affairs and Exceedance all running to 125.
RATING
|
WINNER
|
YEAR
|
125
|
FLYING ARTIE
|
2016
|
125
|
HOME AFFAIRS
|
2021
|
125
|
EXCEEDANCE
|
2019
|
122
|
JAPONISME
|
2015
|
122
|
BRAZEN BEAU
|
2014
|
120
|
MERCHANT NAVY
|
2017
|
120
|
IN SECRET
|
2022
|
120
|
SUNLIGHT
|
2018
|
119
|
OZZMOSIS
|
2023
|
116
|
SEPTEMBER RUN
|
2020
|
This year’s edition looks strong, and a few horses are already rated right up to the typical winning standard. If they run up to their best, or even improve on what is typically a grand final for these horses, this year’s edition should stack up nicely.
Growing Empire holds a peak rating of 121, achieved when nosed out by Southport Tycoon in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley. The Poseidon Stakes winner down the Flemington straight has since run to 117 in The Everest behind Bella Nipotina.
Missing The Everest was Traffic Warden who was scratched at the gates. He was narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) prior running to a rating of 118.
Lady Of Camelot was good at big odds when fourth in The Everest running to 117 and holds a peak of 118, achieved in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) as a two-year-old.
No horse has won the Golden Slipper/Coolmore Stud Stakes double since Sepoy, who was rated a whopping 128 at his best.
Chris Waller brings Coolmore colt Switzerland down off a big win in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) where he ran to a rating of 116, while the in-form Bellatrix Star earns a crack at Group 1 company having also run to 116 last start when beating the older horses.