By Scott Bailey
The Coolmore Classic has long held a special place on the Sydney autumn calendar, not just as one of the premier races for fillies and mares, but as a genuine launchpad for riding careers at the elite level. Few Group 1s can claim the same knack for producing breakthrough moments, and the honour roll of jockeys who landed their first top-level win in this race gives the 1500-metre feature an added layer of meaning. Two time Melbourne Cup winning and legendary jockey Corey Brown broke through aboard Camino Rose in 1999, Kathy O’Hara did it on Ofcourseican in 2012, Linda Meech followed on Plucky Belle in 2015, Sam Clipperton joined the list with Peeping in 2016, and Andrew Adkins added his name when Daysee Doom won in 2018. It is a race with history, prestige and, for some riders, life-changing significance.
That sense of occasion is there again this year as a deep and intriguing Coolmore Classic brings together proven Group performers, emerging mares and a dangerous three-year-old filly contingent. Worth $1 million and run under quality conditions over 1500 metres at Rosehill.
Lazzura brings obvious class to the contest and looks one of the headline hopes. Chris Waller’s mare has already won at the track and distance, her form around higher-grade company is strong, and her first-up second in the Millie Fox suggested she has returned in terrific order. From barrier eight with James McDonald who has won this race the last two years, she should get her chance to settle where comfortable and build through her gears late. She looks one of the safest runners in the field.
Manaal also appeals as a major player. Michael Freedman’s mare has been admirably consistent this campaign and comes into the race off back-to-back placings behind smart opposition in the Triscay and Guy Walter. The inside draw is a clear advantage and the addition of winkers for the first time adds interest. She has the rating and the recent form to measure right up, and she profiles as one who should get every favour in running.
Vivy Air adds a slightly different element to the race because she brings high-quality form at a mile and beyond, and that makes her an intriguing runner back to 1500 metres. Her Five Diamonds win reads well, she has competed with credit in richer and stronger races, and Ciaron Maher’s team rarely places one in a Group 1 without purpose. Barrier nine is workable enough and if the tempo is strong, she can be charging late.
Verona Rose is impossible to ignore off her Guy Walter win. She arrives with momentum, has shown she can absorb big race pressure and keep finding, and her rise through the grades this season has been impressive. Craig Williams sticks, barrier four is ideal, and she looks the type who can put herself in the race at the right time. Whether she has the same upside as some of the more established mares at Group 1 level is the key question, but on current form she deserves serious respect.
Arctic Glamour has been building toward another big performance and her third in the Guy Walter was full of merit. Drawn the rails, Tom Sherry should be able to save ground and look for gaps late, and if the race is run to suit, she is capable of finishing in the placings. She has often hinted at being up to this sort of level and this looks another good opportunity to test that.
Ole Dancer is one of the more fascinating runners in the race. The three-year-old filly already has a Group 1 win to her name from the Thousand Guineas and was sound in the Surround when third behind Tempted and Savvy Hallie. She meets older mares here, which is a stiffer task, but she carries only 55kg and still looks to have upside.
Savvy Hallie also commands attention as a three-year-old coming through the right form race. She was excellent in the Surround when only narrowly beaten and has shown throughout her campaign that she owns tactical pace and real grit. The wide barrier is not ideal, but Nash Rawiller is one of the best at overcoming awkward draws in these pressure races. If she gets the right cart into it, she has the talent to figure prominently but needs luck early.
Cinsault is the mare coming through the grades with the hottest winning form. Her Millie Fox victory was sharp, she maps to get another soft run from barrier five, and Michael Freedman has her absolutely flying. This is clearly a much harder assignment, but she is in the zone and mares in that sort of form can take another step quickly. She is not here to make up numbers.
Of the lighter-weight chances, Firestorm has enough quality to improve sharply second-up, Melody Again is the knockout hope for those looking wider given her honest recent form, and Shohisha looks attractively weighted at 51kg after a sound Guy Walter performance. Cilacap also has upside and the soft-track profile to make her interesting, especially from a low draw.
The shape of the race suggests several with winning claims, but Lazzura looks the mare with the right mix of class, platform and profile for a race like this. Manaal has done little wrong and looks the logical danger, while Verona Rose and Savvy Hallie both bring genuine form lines. Cinsault is the mare who could easily keep climbing, and Vivy Air is the one who may be strongest late if the race becomes a true stamina test at 1500 metres.
