Jamie Kah got a feel for Coolangatta at Cranbourne jumpouts on Monday with a Group 1 ride aboard the classy filly the star jockey’s if she wants it.
Coolangatta has been ridden byJames McDonald in all four starts but will get a weight outside the champion Sydney jockey’s weight range in her first major spring assignment – the $1 million weight-for-age Moir Stakes (1000m) on September 23.
It means co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have had to look elsewhere for a rider and they have started with Melbourne’s most in-demand rider.
“They (owners) were keen to target the Moir, so she’ll get in with a very light weight in that,” Eustace said.
“She (Kah) can ride if she wants to. We’re obviously a little bit further down the line than that, but we thought this was a good opportunity for her to have a sit on her.”
The daughter of Written Tycoon was given an easy time of things despite racing in a prominent position in Monday’s 800m workout.
“She just naturally rolled to the top without having to be asked to do that and Jamie just sat on her,” Eustace said.
“She trialled nicely but wasn’t asked to do anything too much. She just did it all within herself. She was obviously impressive to the eye and looks to have come back really well.”
Coolangatta is joint $8 second favourite with Doull in TAB’s Moir Stakes market, which is headed by Coolangatta’s stablemate Marabi at $6.
Coolangatta has not started since finishing third as favourite in the Golden Slipper, her first defeat in a career that started with Group 3 wins in the Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) and B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) ahead of Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) success.
She is yet to start in Melbourne but Victorian racing fans will see a lot of her this spring.
“She’ll have another trial and then probably run in the McEwen (Stakes), which is three weeks prior over 1000, that’s ideal, and then (go to the) Moir and then Manikato.”
Like the Moir Stakes, the $300,000 Group 2 McEwen Stakes and $2 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) are also at The Valley, on September 3 and October 21 respectively.
