The Mike Moroney & Glen Thompson stable has been patient with highly promising Coeur Volante who is about to embark on her latest campaign.
Coeur Volante is one of 22 nominations for the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The lightly raced four-year-old daughter of Proisir has not raced since finishing sixth in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm in June.
Thompson said the mare was spelled up in Brisbane, but was given a longer break in Queensland and missed the Spring, both in Melbourne and Sydney.
Coeur Volante has had two jump-outs to prepare for Saturday’s return, her most recent being over 800m at Werribee on January 17.
“She is in good order, jumping out well at Flemington and Werribee,” Thompson said.
“We took her to Brisbane, but she just didn’t do well in the Spring, so we just wanted to give her a good break and give her a chance.
“She was up there for around a dozen weeks. She looks good, she’s not a big horse but she’s held onto her condition and hopefully that time pays off.”
After showing early promise as a two-year-old, Coeur Volante stamped her class with an impressive first-up win in the Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in September 2023 which was quickly followed by victory in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield.
That victory prompted Moroney to declare Coeur Volante was potentially one of the better horses he had trained throughout his distinguished career.
After her Caulfield win, Coeur Volante was one of the top fancies for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m), winding up in fourth spot behind Joliestar.
“Ever since that Thousand Guineas prep, she’s had a few little issues that haven’t worked out for her, nothing major,” Thompson said.
Saturday’s return run will guide the team as to where Coeur Volante will head, but long term they would like to head to Sydney for the Group 1 mares’ races.
“I think the Coolmore Classic has been spoken about but it’s one race at a time,” Thompson said.
“She needs to be winning something first before we go to a race like that.”