The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Coolangatta has recovered from her terrifying ordeal at Moonee Valley and is ready for a Group 1 assignment at Flemington.
And Eustace believes the filly is at a ‘big price’ to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Coolangatta missed running in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley after the race was delayed from Friday night to Saturday’s Cox Plate program.
The filly had just made her way onto the track on Friday night when a large clap of thunder sparked a moment of terror for Coolangatta and other runners.
Eustace said he had not heard anything like it before on a racecourse.
“It was genuinely pretty terrifying for everyone,” Eustace said.
“It was difficult for everyone, participants, horses, but that had no bearing on why she was scratched. We just thought the track and where she was drawn had a little bit of a bearing on it.
“Knowing the Coolmore was a week later was the nail in the coffin and she wouldn’t have beaten Bella Nipotina anyway, that’s for sure.”
Eustace also indicated two trips out to The Valley in 24 hours from her Cranbourne stable would not have been ideal.
With Jamie Kah, who was to have ridden Coolangatta last weekend, heading to the Golden Eagle meeting in Sydney on Saturday, Craig Williams has been given the call-up to ride the filly.
Williams rode the filly in a piece of work at Cranbourne on Tuesday.
“She switched off well, in behind, which she’ll need to do on Saturday and we’re confident that she will,” Eustace said.
“She has won at 1200 metres in the Magic Millions and she was strong in the Golden Slipper on what was very heavy ground.
“I think she is a big price and a bit overlooked in the market. She’s a Moir winner and she was close to favourite last week.
“I think there’s some colts there with still a bit to prove while she is a Group 1 winner.”
