The feature race at Rosehill this Saturday is the Coolmore Classic (1500m), and on paper it looks a wide-open contest with several genuine winning chances.
Lazzura heads the market but there are question marks. She resumed in the Millie Fox Stakes and had every chance under James McDonald but couldn’t get past Cinsault, while her recent trial was only fair. She clearly has class but looks short enough in betting.
Manaal has been racing well without winning and continues to be burdened by big weights, while Vivy Air comes into the race off three trials and moved nicely in a recent Randwick hit-out. She should be strong late if the race is run to suit.
Verona Rose stamped herself as a serious contender with a dominant win in the Guy Walter Stakes and looks primed for a crack at Group 1 level. Arctic Glamour also caught the eye in that race when finishing off strongly on a shifting track and would appreciate firmer ground from an inside draw.
Ole Dancer was excellent in defeat in the Surround Stakes two weeks ago, racing on speed before sticking on gamely behind Tempted. She is hard fit, well weighted and versatile in running, making her a key chance. Savvy Hallie nearly stole the Surround from the front before being caught late and, while 1500m is a small query, she could run well if controlling the tempo.
Cinsault showed plenty of fight to win the Millie Fox Stakes, holding off Lazzura thanks to superior race fitness, although the step to 1500m is a slight query. Firestorm was narrowly beaten in this race last year and was solid first-up in the Guy Walter, but a tricky draw complicates her task.
Melody Again appears to be in terrific form but this may be a tougher test, while You Wahng resumes after a placing in the Subzero on Magic Millions Day and could run well before likely backing up next week in the Epona Stakes. Shohisha finished off nicely in the Guy Walter but may find this level too strong, Jenni The Fox was disappointing in that race and is hard to entertain, while Cilacap was solid when resuming in the Millie Fox and, with improvement to come, could be an each-way chance.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2026 Coolmore Classic.
2026 Coolmore Classic Runner Preview:
1. Lazzura: I think the jury is out on her and no way could I have her as favourite. Yes, first up in the Millie Fox, but she was given a 12/10 by J Mac and couldn’t get past Cinsault. Tick over trial was okay without jumping up and down and yes, she has class, but I am against her.
2. Manaal: Racing really well but just not winning and has been hampered by big weights. Suspect something similar happens again.
3. Vivy Air: Three trials under the belt and loved the way she trucked in a recent trial at Randwick. She’ll be strong late…but how on earth have they found Reece Jones to ride. He rides her well, but the kid is shot re confidence.
4. Verona Rose: She was dominant, almost to the point of arrogant, in her Guy Walter triumph. Looks primed for a crack at Group l glory, she is right in the mix.
5. Arctic Glamour: Loved the way she closed off in the Guy Walter on a shifty track. She would love this track to really dry out so if that eventuates, with gate one, she’s very dangerous at odds.
6. Ole Dancer: Ole Dancer was very good in defeat in the Surround two weeks ago. Ridden with intent to land on speed and she tried her guts out but lacked the quality of Tempted to go with her late when third. Hard fit now, right down in the weights, versatile re racing style, she’s a key chance for me.
7. Savvy Hallie: Nearly pinched the Surround from the front but was nabbed on the peg by Tempted. I think 1500m is a query but with potential front end control, she’ll run really well.
8. Cinsault: Cinsault is a beauty for Michael Freedman. Credit to her in the Millie Fox, I thought Lazzura had her cold, but this girl had hard fitness, she fought hard and fended off Lazzura to win. Up to 1500m is a query but she has earned a crack.
9. Firestorm: Went within a lip of winning this race last year, a harder edition. Was solid fresh in the Guy Walter but the gate makes things very tricky.
10. Melody Again: Think this mare is absolutely flying but I do think this maybe a bridge too far.
11. You Wahng: Freshened since a second in the Subzero on Magic Millions Day. Wouldn’t shock me if she runs okay here but backs up next week in the Epona.
12. Shohisha: Closed her race off pretty well in the Guy Walter but don’t think she is up to these.
13. Jenni The Fox: Terrible in the Guy Walter, can’t entertain her.
14. Cilacap: Cilacap resumed a few weeks back in the Millie Fox at Rosehill. She got off speed and while she was never threatening, she kept chasing and was pretty good in defeat I thought. Might want one more, but with good upside, she’s in the mix and worthy of an each way ticket.
2026 Coolmore Classic $100 Betting Strategy:
$20 Win/$80 Place Cilacap
Group l Strategy Outlay: $4400
Group l Strategy Return: $3783
Coolmore Classic Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LAZZURA | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 8 | 58kg |
| 2 | MANAAL | Michael Freedman | Jason Collett | 2 | 58kg |
| 3 | VIVY AIR | Ciaron Maher | Reece Jones | 9 | 57kg |
| 4 | VERONA ROSE | Gary Portelli | Craig Williams | 4 | 56kg |
| 5 | ARCTIC GLAMOUR | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tom Sherry | 1 | 55.5kg |
| 6 | OLE DANCER | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Zac Lloyd | 11 | 55kg |
| 7 | SAVVY HALLIE | Brad Widdup | Nash Rawiller | 13 | 55kg |
| 8 | CINSAULT | Michael Freedman | Tim Clark | 5 | 55kg |
| 9 | FIRESTORM (NZ) | Chris Waller | Tyler Schiller | 12 | 53.5kg |
| 10 | MELODY AGAIN | Scott Singleton | Ms Winona Costin | 7 | 53.5kg |
| 11 | YOU WAHNG | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons | 14 | 53kg |
| 12 | SHOHISHA | David Payne | Andrew Adkins | 6 | 51kg |
| 13 | JENNI THE FOX | Ciaron Maher | Jett Stanley | 10 | 51kg |
| 14 | CILACAP | Grahame Begg | Ms Rachel King | 3 | 51kg |
Coolmore Classic Odds
2026 Coolmore Classic Speed Map
Savvy Hallie looks your leader, and comfortably I say. She should get the drag across via Ole Dancer, and I think that pair cross Manaal. Cinsault likely lands 1/1 and potentially the run of the race.
