Coldplay wins Group 2 Rich Hill Mile for Baker & Forsman
“The Thorndon Mile has always been on her radar, a Group 1 win is what she wants on her CV,” said Andrew Forsman, who trains the Savabeel five-year-old with Murray Baker. “Beyond that, she could go to Sydney in the autumn.”
Coldplay won at Group 2 level for the second time – the first was the Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) – in the Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day and she also has Group Three success in the Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and the Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m).
Connections were pleasantly surprised by her Rich Hill performance in the Slow 7 conditions.
“We weren’t really confident at all, but we thought we’d have a throw at the stumps,” Forsman said.
“The only thing that gave us a little bit of confidence was the wide draw and she could get out in the better part of the track.”
Those pre-race thoughts were realised when Coldplay got into stride smartly for rider Johnathan Parkes.
“She bounced out well and put herself right in the race and she kept on giving to the line,” he said.
Coldplay raced on the leader’s quarters and she showed her courage after hitting the front early in the run home to hold off Ronchi and Charles Road.
“We were lucky we had a wide draw and I was able to get out in the better footing,” Parkes said.
Coldplay’s stablemate Love Affair was the pre-post favourite, but connections weren’t prepared to risk her in the rain-affected ground. Both horses carry the Waikato Stud colours.
“Love Affair will probably go to the Anniversary at Trentham now,” Forsman said.
A close relation to Coldplay will be offered by Waikato Stud during the Book 1 Sale at Karaka on January 28. The Savabeel colt (Lot 108) is also a brother to Savacool, who won for the second time in her four start career at Randwick earlier in the day.