Can a Kiwi-Bred win G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes?

Media Release - Friday October 28

Since being eleveated to G1 status in 2006, the VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) has never been won by a Kiwi-bred, but that could change on Saturday. 

Grand Impact will need to make history if he is to win the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes - image Grant Courtney

Undefeated three-year-old Grand Impact faces his biggest test to date when he contests the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the son of Satono Aladdin is one of a trio of runners for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable in the stallion-making race.

The Cranbourne conditioners will present Group One winner Jacquinot ($5.50), last-start Group Three winner Grand Impact ($8.50) and outsider Bews ($91) in the dash down the Flemington straight six.

Kiwi bred Grand Impact has proven somewhat of a nice surprise to date, with the youngster showing little in his trackwork and he was well held in a recent Flemington jumpout.

But the addition of blinkers on raceday transform the galloper, who has long been set to peak in the Coolmore.

“We just trust the horse goes better on race day and gets it done, he is quite freakish like that,” Kent Jnr told SEN’s GiddyUp.

“In his jumpout at Flemington he was beaten by 10 lengths, but we were happy with that. It was just a way for him to look around with no blinkers on.

“Blinkers on on raceday, he is just a totally different horse. He has won each race quite easily, even in the Blue Sapphire (Gr.3, 1200m) he was half playing with them going past the line and going away from them again.”

Grand Impact, who will be ridden by Mark Zahra, has drawn the inside gate, but much of the speed has drawn on the far side in the straight race, while the colt has also proven he can handle rain-affected conditions, with the Flemington track rated a Heavy8 on Friday morning.

“We haven’t got to the bottom of him, and he likes getting his toe into the ground. I wouldn’t dismiss him at all,” Kent Jnr said.

Advertisement

“I am not sure whether barrier one is a good or bad thing, we will know by race six. He has got speed to jump and Mark can put him wherever he wants, whether that is down on the rail or in the middle of the track, we will work that out.

“He could not be any better, he just looks superb. Everything is in order with him and he is ready to go.”

Kent Jnr was also full of praise for his sire Satono Aladdin and believes the Rich Hill Stud stallion, an impeccably bred Group One winning son of Deep Impact, has a bright future.

“He (Satono Aladdin) was a champion miler and shuttles to Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand. He has only had limited runners in Australia, but they have all won in town. It is quite freakish,” he said.

“They (Rich Hill Stud) have been inundated with bookings for their stallion. I think these Japanese stallions are continuing to do the job down here.

“He is definitely a sire that is working in Australia and will continue to do so.”

Grand Impact was bred by Ross and Corrine Kearney under their Okaharau Station banner and the couple retain an ownership interest in the colt.

He was initially trained in New Zealand by Stephanie Tierney for whom he had two trials, winning over 800m at Ellerslie in January before his majority sale to clients of trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.  – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for SAtono Aladdin

SAtono Aladdin in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.