Damien Oliver took his Group 1 tally to 127, and it is doubtful that he rode any of the previous 126 any better than the peach he gave to the Hallowed Crown mare Colette in the TAB Empire Rose Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Oliver came with a weaving run on Godolphin’s money-making machine to defeat a rejuvenated Mystic Journey (Needs Further) by a short-head with Hungry Heart (Frankel) a nose back in third.
This time last year, Colette won the $7.5million Golden Eagle. She came to the Empire Rose off a win in the Tristarc Stakes, which earned her a $1million bonus.
The winner of the Group 1 ATC Oaks at three, Colette advances her record to eight wins and three seconds from 20 starts with earnings of $5,853,155.
“That’s just about the ride of the season for mine. Damien Oliver on Colette there. She’s a proper racehorse, isn’t she,” Cummings said.
“She got herself back together when it didn’t all work out for her after the Caulfield Cup, and the guys had her in great shape a fortnight ago for the Tristarc.
“She had ‘follow me over a mile’ written all over her, and a good track was no problem for her today and she weaved through them beautifully. Let down like a serious Group 1 horse and I think she deserves all the accolades she gets.
“Placement is a beautiful thing. I talked to Domenic Beirne about the race and we agreed that there was plenty of pace in it and that is going to suit a horse that is capable of winning over a mile-and-a-half like she was as a three-year-old filly in the Oaks.
“She had her preparation steered as we are capable of being open minded with our horses and she was perfectly placed today.
“She’s been an absolutely beautiful mare for the stable and she’s well loved. We’ll consider the seven-day back-up in the Mackinnon.
“She’s backed up once before for a Group 1 in the Oaks. The rain forecast on Thursday wouldn’t hurt.
“She’s a horse that, I think, we’re entitled to be very proud of.”
Oliver said that teaming up with Godolphin had put him back in the big time.
“It has been great, it has really rejuvenated my career over the past 12 months and great to team up with a great team down here in Melbourne, Reg Fleming and Sean Keogh as well, and all the rest of the team in Melbourne. And James has been really supportive of the team down here as well, so it’s nice to reward them,” Oliver said.
“I missed this mare last time unfortunately, but I rode her earlier in the campaign and she was heading towards the Caulfield Cup. She had a little set back and didn’t quite get there, but it was nice to get back on her.”
“She’s a little darling, there is not much of her, but she has a tonne of heart and it was a great win.
“She was off the bit most of the way, she didn’t really travel, but there was strong tempo in the race and she just kept finding the line. “She got a beautiful run through, and it is nice when you are on one that is going quicker than the gaps.
“I peered up when I straightened, and I could see Tofane up there and I thought I know it’s going to take me everywhere I want to go. She got the split and she was great in the end”
The daughter of Hallowed Crown is a half-sister to juvenile stakes-winner Metastasio, and is the best of six winners from unraced Singspiel mare Libretto, from a strong European family.
Libretto was pensioned in 2019, and Colette is her final foal.
Hallowed Crown began his career at Darley before moving to Twin Hills Stud, where he stands at a fee of $11,000.
