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One to Watch – Benalla

Tara Madgwick - Monday September 4
So You Think had runners in both the Victoria Derby and Oaks last spring, so when one of his three year-olds breaks their maiden like this we want to know more.

Coral CoastPrepared by Stuart Webb, lightly raced filly Coral Coast cast off maiden status with a powerful two length win at Benalla on Monday over 1600 metres at her third start.

She travelled smoothly for Harry Coffey in fourth place before surging into the race to run right away and win as she pleased.

A $360,000 Magic Millions purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Kia Ora draft, Coral Coast runs for a syndicate headed by Robert McLure in whose colours she runs and certainly has the pedigree to be a spring contender.

Bred by Kia Ora, Coral Coast is the first winner for dual New Zealand Group I winner Dorabella, whose third dam Our Lafite won the Group II VRC Wakeful Stakes and was second in the Group I VRC Oaks.

"Her dam won two 'proper' Group I races in NZ and this filly stood out at Magic Millions as an awesome type with a marvellous action," recalled James Bester.

Coral Coast as a yearling"I had to dig deep to outbid Duncan Ramage and James Cummings, the more so as I was buying 'on spec', but I was unwilling to leave the sale without her.

"Robert McClure and Laurie Macri didn't hesitate when I approached them to come into her and then Ananda Krishnan called later to ask if, as breeder, he could buy back in and I kept a bit myself.

"She's still short of her three year-old birthday, but Stu rates her up there with Oaks place-getter Ana Royale (the last filly Harry Coffey rode for him) and will set her on a path towards the Oaks now."

Kia Ora will be hoping Coral Coast fulfils her potential as Dorabella was covered again by So You Think last year.


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