Coolangatta Earns a Trip to Royal Ascot after Capturing Black Caviar Lightning Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday February 18

The odds-on favourite Nature Strip finished unplaced, while the three-year-old Written Tycoon filly Coolangatta claimed a second Group 1, which was the wash-up from a thrilling $1,000,000 Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

A second Group 1 for Coolangatta (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Jamie Kah for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Coolangatta repelled the fast-finishing Savabeel 4yo I Wish I Win by a long-neck with the winner's ever-reliable stablemate Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), a short-half-head back in third.

James McDonald took up the running on Nature Strip, who never looked overly comfortable and weakened to finish sixth.

The Group 1 Moir Stakes winner at Moonee Valley in September, Coolangatta advances her record to five wins and two thirds from eight starts with earnings of $3,075,000.

"Unbelievable, she was so impressive," Eustice said.

"She travelled into it so well. She's had a faultless prep. The team has done an amazing job with all three (Marabi and Bella Nipotina). It's a great thrill.

"We were really confident she'd improved. Physically she's bigger and stronger. She's heavier, and we thought she'd improved from the spring to now and from two to three.

"With that in mind, this had been the race targeted for a long while now. It's just fantastic to get another winner for Ozzie (Kheir) and John (O'Neill).

"Ozzie is on the sofa - that is where we like him. They tend to win when he's on the couch and John is leading them in. They don't tend to win when he's here on course.

Advertisement

"They’re a great group and it’s a great thrill.

“A really well judged and timed ride from Jamie. She let her travel deep into the race and didn’t push the button too soon, and she was pretty convincing.”

“From here, the dream would be Royal Ascot for everyone involved. She’s shown she likes the straight and I think everyone in the group would be keen to go there.

“Where she goes next, I’m not sure, but ultimately we’d love to give that a crack.”

Raced by a partnership that includes John O'Neill, Ozzie Kheir, Brae Sokolski, and Matthew Becker’s Group 1 Bloodstock, Coolangatta was a $280,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Milburn Creek draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Bred by Highclere Stud Australia, Coolangatta is a half-sister to the talented Snitzel gelding Snitzonfire. They are the first two foals of the Sydney-winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Piping Hot.

Kennewell Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) / Trilogy Racing shelled out $300,000 for Piping Hot’s Dundeel filly from the Milburn Creek draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She has been named Paradise Point.

Piping Hot foaled a sister to Coolangatta on August 18 and was covered by I Am Invincible.

Advertisment

Race Result - Black Caviar Lightning Gr1 1000m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 0:56.46
1
Coolangatta
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Piping Hot (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jamie Kah 53.5
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $800,000
Seller: Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Highclere Australia
2
0.4
I Wish I Win
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Make A Wish (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: L Nolen 58.5
3
0.5
Bella Nipotina
- 5m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Bella Orfana (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: B Melham 56.5
Pride Of Dubai
4
0.7
September Run
- 5m Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Pittsburgh Flyer (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
5
2.2
Buenos Noches
- 3c Supido (AUS) x Koi (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Craig Williams 55.5
6
2.3
Nature Strip
- 8g Nicconi (AUS) x Strikeline (AUS) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
7
3.3
Baller
- 7g High Chaparral (IRE) x Fuwa (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: M Zahra 58.5
8
3.5
Marabi
- 6m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Nakaaya (AUS) (Tiger Hill (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ben Allen 56.5
9
6.5
Fire
- 4g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Keep On Singing (USA) (Hennessy (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: D Oliver 58.5
10
6.7
Millane
- 3c Zoustar (AUS) x Fireworks (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: D W Stackhouse 55.5
More Reading...
Golden Rose Brings Second Season Shake Up
We are two months into a new racing season and the second season sires table was given a good shake up over the weekend with the $1million Group I Golden Rose and $300,000 Group II Stutt Stakes both producing a quinella for sires in this cohort.
Inglis Ready2Race Purchase Headed to $3million Big Dance
Sales for two year-olds in training are looming on the horizon for all three auction houses and the $150,000 Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m) on Sunday has eligibility for the $3million Big Dance for the winner and it was progressive Exceedance 4YO Cristal Clear, who claimed the prize.
New Stakes-Winner for Star Aussie Mare Sea Siren
Aussie bred Fastnet Rock mare Sea Siren has certainly made her mark both on the racetrack where she was a triple Group I winner and at stud with her produce record is headed by triple Group I winner Warm Heart and over the weekend she produced another stakes-winner and he won the richest race in Poland.
Favourite Whisky On The Hill (GB) Wins Listed R.M. Ansett Classic
With just a small field of seven runners jumping away in the Listed MRC R.M. Ansett Classic (2415m) at Mornington on Sunday, it was the Glen Thompson trained Whiskey On The Hill (GB) (Ribchester) who took the prize, securing his first black type victory.
Written Tycoon's Coolangatta Triumphs in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic
Written Tycoon filly Coolangatta kept up the great strike rate for favourites in the $2,000,000 Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast when she held the challenge of the game Russian Conquest.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 28
Here is the full list of 73 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Coolangatta Dominant in McLachlan Stakes
Gimcrack Stakes heroine Coolangatta erased any doubt about running a strong 1200m when keeping her record at a perfect two for two in a furiously run Group III Magic Millions BJ McLachlan Stakes at Doomben on Boxing Day.
Record-Breaking Weetwood Win To Dundeel’s Tavs
Having not raced since fourth in the Listed BRC Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, the Mark Currie trained Tavs (Dundeel) resumed from a spell to record his first black type victory, winning the Listed Weetwood (1200m) at Toowoomba on Saturday in track record time.
‘Petrol in the Tank’ – Why Buying Mares from Godolphin is a Good Idea
From the point of view of the bloodstock world, Beiwacht was the most significant winner from last weekend with his Group I Golden Rose victory propelling his sire Bivouac to the top of the second season sires list, but it wasn’t just Godolphin cheering him home with a number of other Aussie breeders now invested in his family.
Coolangatta All The Way in Moir Stakes
The flying Written Tycoon filly Coolangatta found conditions to suit when returning to the winners list in Friday’s $1,000,000 Group 1 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.