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So many grand mares are winners of the Coolmore Classic run at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sunline won the race twice which proves that. Will another create memories in the 2024 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday?
2024 COOLMORE CLASSIC - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Coolmore Classic is Group 1 race for fillies and mares conducted by the Australian Turf Club at Rosehill.
The Coolmore Classic is run over 1500m at Rosehill and was introduced in 1973. It is run under Handicap conditions with a Minimum topweight at acceptance time of 57kg. The first running was taken out by Miss Personality.
It has been run at Rosehill each year under various names but has been the Coolmore Classic for some time. The Registered name is the TAD Kennedy Stakes.
The Coolmore Classic was the first G1 for the F&M in Australia and remained the only one until over a couple of years the Myer Classic, Sangster Stakes, Tatts Tiara and Queen Of The Turf Stakes were added.
In 2024 the Coolmore Classic was worth $1,000,000.
The 3yo fillies have held their own winning 8 of the last 30 but none since Typhoon Tracy. Of the older mares in recent seasons, only Sunline has won post her 5yo year before Alverta, Steps In Time, Plucky Belle, Dixie Blossoms and Con Te Partiro.
An absolute blow out for the favourites. Apart from the great Sunline, there's barely a primary elect in sight. Last favourite to win was Aloha (2011). In fact only 2 of the last 20 punters' elects have saluted.
Gai Waterhouse has won this race five times and last year emulated Max Lees five winners (Shindig/Chlorophyll/Flitter/Quicksilver Cindy/Satin Sand). However Ron Quinton has won six with two as a jockey and four as a trainer.
Before Lighthouse (via the Canterbury Stakes), Ofcourseican (2012) was the last winner not to run in a F&M race as the lead up (Liverpool City Cup). Before her it was Sunline in the Waikato Sprint in 2002.
Four have done the CC/QOTT double (Favoured 1974, Camino Rose 1999, Appearance 2013, Con Te Partiro 2020) but the last one is the only one since the QOTT's re-assignment to Randwick.
You basically have to run in either the Millie Fox or Guy Walter Stakes.
Previous winners of the Coolmore Classic include Emancipation (1984), Bounding Away (1987), Skating (1993), Assertive Lass (1997), Shamekha (2004), Tuesday Joy (2007), Typhoon Tracy (2009), Appearance (2013), Steps In Time (2014), Dixie Blossoms (2019) and Espiona (2023).
In 2016, Coolmore Classic winner Peeping gave Sam Clipperton a big thrill winning for Ron Quinton but the mare sadly died suddenly a few weeks later suffering a colic attack.
In 2020 Con Te Partiro came back into training to score for Tulloch Lodge as she was on the comeback trail following her failed attempt to get into foal to Zoustar. She also won the Coolmore Legacy QOTT.
The 2023 Coolmore Classic was won by Espiona from Pride Of Jenni and Sheeza Belter.
