The stallion-making Coolmore Stud Stakes has yet again been won by a filly, with Chris Waller’s September Run flying down the Flemington straight to win the $1.5 million race.
There was never any doubt about September Run’s ability down the straight, having won her past two races over a Flemington sprint trip, and Waller said it was no surprise that another elite straight-line winner has come out of The Hermitage farm in NSW, where straight-line training makes up a huge part of his horses’ programs.
“She was just a step below the Sydney fillies in her first-up run so I thought ‘how are we going to get her back on the board?'” Waller said post-race.
“We sent her back down there and she’s created her own legacy. She’s a very good straight horse.
“They work up the straight track [at The Hermitage] every day. It’s as good a training facility as you could find in Australia. There have been some pretty good horses there to say the least. The names of Brazen Beaus, Zoustars, Winxes and Nature Strips and others that have been there. That was a good field today of colts.”
Swats That and Wild Ruler rounded out the placings, but they never threatened to beat the winner, who joined the likes of Sunlight (2018) and Alinghi (2004) as fillies who have won the race. Golden Slipper winner Farnan, however, pulled up lame.
Waller said the clinical nature of September Run’s win on Saturday didn’t come as a shock.
“Today didn’t surprise me because I thought her last-start win was very good, she actually won with purpose,” he said.
“When you’re attacking the line up the straight at Flemington, it’s always a good sign to a race like this.”
Champion jockey Craig Williams said it was a thrill to claim the time-honoured sprint for the second time in his career.
“Wow, she’s just one of the best three-year-old sprinters through the spring. She did all the running,” he said after his second win for the day.
“I spoke to Chris this morning, he’s great to ride for. He said ‘you know her really well, so whatever it takes Craig’, you’ve got full support of the owners.
“I knew if we get the first half right we know what acceleration she’s got and we really saw that today.”
Jockey Glen Boss, however, said his colt Farnan had pulled up sore.
“He’s pulled-up lame. Under pressure he’s lame and he trotted back lame,” he said.
– Damien Ractliffe, The Age
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