Premier trainer Chris Waller said he was likely to shy away from the Group One Coolmore Classic with Red Tracer despite the mare’s effortless victory in Saturday’s Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill.
Red Tracer lined up in a field of just six in the Group Three fillies and mares contest over 1300m after the scratchings of some other leading chances including last-start stakeswinner Steps In Time and multiple stakeswinner More Strawberries.
The four-year-old mare was sent out the $1.50 favourite and never looked in danger as she stalked the leader Montana Flyer before moving around her turning for home to take the lead.
Leading jockey Hugh Bowman gave Red Tracer her head at the 250m mark and the consistent mare accelerated away to defeat Crafty Irna ($21) by 2-1/4 lengths with 1-1/4 lengths to Older Than Time ($9) in third.
The $600,000 Coolmore (1500m) for fillies and mares is at Rosehill in three weeks but Waller nominated the Tatts Tiara (1400m) in Brisbane during the winter carnival as a more likely Group One target.
“The Coolmore is probably a bit hard for her to win but there will be some nice races for her in the carnival,” Waller said.
“I think we’ll look at going another path but if the Coolmore happened to fall away she would be there ready to go.”
Waller has always taken a patient approach with Red Tracer including at last year’s autumn carnival when the then filly finished second in both the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes and Surround Stakes.
Instead of pressing on to the major fillies and mares races, Waller backed off and the filly returned from a short let-up to win the Listed PJ Bell Stakes and James Carr Stakes.
Her spring campaign netted a Listed Toy Show Quality win and she finished a game third in the Group One Epsom Handicap.
AAP TURF
