Chris Waller has captured his fourth successive Coolmore Classic, while James McDonald has moved to within one win of Damien Oliver’s record number of majors following Lazzura’s brave victory in the feature race at Rosehill.
Lumping 58kg, Lazzura became the first mare since Sunline (60kg) in 2002 to carry more than 57kg to success in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) and in doing so moved McDonald to 128 Group 1 wins.
He needs just one more to equal the Australian record held by the now retired Damien Oliver, a feat McDonald is in the box seat to achieve next Saturday at Rosehill where his mounts are set to include unbeaten star Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes.
A humble McDonald said the record wasn’t in his mind and credited Lazzura for her guts and determination.
“It’s a funny feeling because ‘Ollie’ (Damien Oliver) is so great, I don’t feel like I should be in that echelon just yet,” McDonald said.
“I feel very privileged to be in the position where I’m getting there slowly.
“It wasn’t me, it was her just really biting down on the mouthguard and having a really decent crack.
“I thought she was all-out with one hundred metres to go, but that will to find the line, it’s something you can’t teach them, you can’t train in them.”
Lazzura was Group 1 placed in last year’s Surround Stakes (1400m) but her Coolmore success was her first at the top level.
After being edged out at her resumption in the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m), Waller was thrilled to see her fight hard for Saturday’s win.
“We had her a bit underdone first-up and rode her a pair too close. Today, we didn’t panic from the draw. We went back, got cover three-wide,” Waller said.
“I thought, following that run last start, you’re going to fold up that last hundred, but she was strong.
“Well deserved. She has been running around against some very good horses without a lot of luck going her way.”
Waller will consult Lazzura’s owners before deciding her autumn goal, but it will either be the Doncaster Mile (1600m) or the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) on April 4 and 11 respectively.
“I’ve got a philosophy that horses don’t just win one Group One. If they’re good enough to win one, they normally win two or three,” he said.
Lazzura ($5) had a short neck to spare over Arctic Glamour ($13) with Vivy Air ($26) flashing home for an eye-catching third, the same margin away.
Savvy Hallie started a $4.20 favourite and led before tiring late to finish eleventh, but jockey Nash Rawiller said she just failed to run the distance strongly at this stage of her career.
“Disappointing on the day, but she will bounce back,” Rawiller said.
