An unsuitable racing surface and an impost her trainer thought was unfair wasn’t enough to stop Queensland mare Krone from winning the Coolmore Classic.
Krone showed she is more than a wet-track specialist in winning the Group One race for fillies and mares at Rosehill on Saturday.
And she also put to rest concerns Tony Gollan had about the handicapping of the in-form mare as she carried 57kg to beat Mizzy and Dame Giselle after a deft ride from Tim Clark .
The Coolmore was run on a firm track but with Clark saving ground from an inside barrier, Krone burst on the scene inside the 200m before scoring a clear-cut win.
“I must admit I was a lot more confident earlier in the week when it looked like we were going to get a wet track,” Gollan said.
“When it didn’t eventuate I was really kicking stones this morning … I really thought it was going to be too hard for her on the firm ground.”
Krone was earmarked for stud last year but was kept in training and Gollan said he had nothing to lose heading to Sydney after she won a Magic Millions race on the Gold Coast in January.
“That gave us a free throw at the stumps down here. It’s a higher level again but she’s just been great,” Gollan added.
Krone’s win ended a Group One drought of almost seven years for Gollan, Brisbane’s premier trainer.
