Coral Coast in Spring Champion Stakes bid
Gloaming Stakes winner Ace High and runner-up Sanctioned head betting for the G1Spring Champion.
Only one filly has won the Spring Champion Stakes but that does not deter Melbourne trainer Stuart Webb who has Coral Coast ready to line up in the Group One race at Randwick.
Yankee Rose became the first of her sex to win a year ago and First Seal was second in 2014 but few fillies have actually contested the 2000m-race.
Webb won the 2010 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes with Yosei and Coral Coast races in the same black and lime green colours belonging to part-owner Rob McClure who also owns unbeaten stablemate Crown Witness.
Coral Coast ran third behind Ace High and Sanctioned in the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) last Saturday week at Rosehill, beaten 5-1/4 lengths, and Webb is convinced she will be better suited by Randwick.
“I had her entered for Flemington but am leaning to Randwick,” Webb said.
“She didn’t get round the home turn at Rosehill. If she had come around the bend better she would have been closer so I’m sure the big Randwick track will suit her better.
“She is a big strong filly and I have no issues with her taking on the males again.
“We will accept with her and make a final decision when we see the field but I’m pretty sure she will go back to Sydney.
“It’s a good race for her heading to the VRC Oaks.”
Ace High is the TAB’s early $3.80 favourite ahead Sanctioned at $5 ahead of Tangled at $7.
The Chris Waller-trained Tangled was a close-up fourth in Saturday’s Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m) after being blocked for a run in the straight.
Waller also has Sambro ($9) and Augustus ($26) among the entries.
Ace High’s trainer David Payne also has Colesberg among the nominations which were reduced on Tuesday by the withdrawal of the Grahame Begg-trained Il Divo.