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Group 1 racing returns to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday when a classy field of fillies and mares contests the 2024 Coolmore Classic.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The Coolmore Classic often proves to be one of the more open Group 1 features of the Sydney Autumn Carnival every year and with a genuine case to be made for more than half of the 18 confirmed gallopers in this year's field, it doesn't look like being any exception to the rule.
I've run the rule over every horse below in my complete 2024 Coolmore Classic preview.
2024 Coolmore Classic Betting Strategy
► 2 Units Zougotcha (Win)
► 2 Units Revolutionary Miss (Each Way)
► 1 Unit Renaissance Woman (Each Way)
1 – Zougotcha (2)
An impressive winner of the Millie Fox Stakes first up from a spell and a fitting favourite in early Coolmore Classic betting.
Won the Group 1 Flight Stakes during her three-year-old prep and has continued to turn in competitive performances since, but her fresh performance this time suggested that she might have returned in her best form to date.
Strips fitter and drawn to receive every chance under James McDonald.
2 – Revolutionary Miss (13)
Has undoubtedly found career-best form this time in and is arguably offered her best ever chance at Group 1 glory to date in the Coolmore Classic.
Won the Summoned Stakes at the conclusion of her spring prep, and after hitting the line to fill the minors of the Magic Millions Cup in January, she has won both the Frances Tressady Stakes and the Mannerism Stakes at her last two starts.
Barrier 13 might be a little sticky, but she's in peak order and is as tough as the day is long. She'll be right there in the thick of it again!
3 – Semana (11)
Chasing a hat-trick of wins after taking out both the Magic Millions Cup and the Triscay Stakes at her last two appearance.
Is a month between runs, but typically finds her best on fresh legs, and this does look the perfect Group 1 target for her.
With even luck in running, she is another in the Coolmore Classic field that rates as a key winning chance.
4 – Vienna Princess (8)
Vienna Princess returned to action to finish fourth, beaten four lengths in the Millie Fox Stakes last month and strips fitter for it.
Went to another level during her spring preparation, winning the Silver Eagle most notably, while finishing two-lengths sixth in The Golden Eagle.
She might not quite have the upside to turn around four lengths on gallopers like Zougotcha and Lady Laguna, but I am expecting the form out of that race to hold up.
5 – Hinged (15)
Group 1 winner Hinged's best form appeared to be behind her, but she was eye-catching into second behind Hell Hath No Fury in the Guy Walter Stakes first-up a fortnight ago.
Boasts an excellent second-up record (6: 3-0-1) and is open to plenty of improvement this week, but will need to be at her absolute best to overcome a wide draw.
6 – Tropical Squall (17)
Two-time Group 1 winning filly and one of three three-year-olds engaged in the 2024 Coolmore Classic field.
Enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence during her spring prep, culminating in the Group 1 Flight Stakes, while she proved too strong for a talented field first-up this time in the Surround Stakes.
Strips fitter and getting out to a mile suits, and she cannot be discounted again this week.
7 – Deny Knowledge (9)
Hasn't been seen at the races since finishing down the order in the Zipping Classic in December.
Has won at this point of her prep previously, but has typically found her best form in Group 2/3 company and would need everything to go right to figure in the finish of something like this.
8 – Foxy Frida (12)
Was good through the line behind Revolutionary Miss in the Frances Tressady first-up from a spell and strips fitter.
Has won just one of seven previous second-up attempts and has drawn a little awkwardly in barrier 12.
9 – Madame Pommery (16)
Was an upset winner of the Thousand Guineas in October of 2022 but has been unable to record another win since.
Resumed with a nice effort to fill the minors in the Millie Fox Stakes but was well beaten by the first and second home. Barrier 16 makes things a lot more difficult for her as well.
10 – Renaissance Woman (5)
Renaissance Woman finished down the order in the Millie Fox Stakes first-up from a spell, but she is mare that tends to enjoy sharp improvement with a run under her belt, and she has won three times at this point of her preparation previously.
Has picked off some lovely races throughout her career, including the Angst Stakes last time in, while she has drawn ideally into the Coolmore Classic field under Rachel King.
Perfect race for her, and she is a live chance of fighting into the first three at big odds.
11 – Yonce (1)
Yonce has improved with each of three runs back from a break, culminating in an eye-catching win in the Group 3 Carlyon Cup last month.
Was nothing short of outstanding last year, winning each of her first six career starts before running fourth in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf, while her most recent performance suggested that she has returned to her best form.
Has options in running from the rails draw and does look up to winning something like this.
12 – Barbie's Fox (10)
Barbie's Fox has been well beaten in each of two runs back from a spell.
Her best wins to date have been in BM78 company and something like this might prove to be a bridge too far.
13 – Hell Hath No Fury (3)
Has undoubtedly found career-best form this time in and is fitting of her place in the 2024 Coolmore Classic field.
Having won consecutive BM72 races at the midweeks in January, she made a successful transition to black type company when winning the Group 2 Guy Walter at her latest.
She's hard fit and primed for another big effort, but this is another rise in class and she might find a couple of the absolute topliners just a little too sharp.
14 – More Secrets (6)
Worked home well to fill the minors of the Guy Walter Stakes when resuming, beaten just under two lengths.
Has been around 18 months since she won a race and is yet to win in black type company. This might be a touch too hard at this pint of her career.
15 – Ausbred Flirt (18)
Ausbred Flirt finished down the order in the Guy Walter Stakes when resuming and has gone up at big Coolmore Classic odds.
Having drawn the carpark, I am happy to take her on again this weekend.
16 – Jennilala (4)
Won in BM84 company at Flemington first-up last month and has been kept up to the mark with a trial since then.
This will be her first attempt at the opposite way of going and a few of her rivals in the Coolmore Classic field do look to have her covered for class.
17 – Kimochi (14)
Kimochi is a very talented filly and looks to be a genuine contender in the Coolmore Classic, particularly with only 50.5kgs in tow.
Has missed placing just once in eleven career starts, that being her luckless effort in the Surround Stakes a fortnight ago but strips fitter into this; her third-up target, and should relish getting out to the 1500m.
With even luck from the draw, I consider her to be a genuine winning chance.
18 – Barby's Doll (7)
Barby's Doll faces easily the biggest task of her career to date in Saturday's Coolmore Classic.
Filled the minors in the Future Stakes Final at Pakenham last time out, but this is a genuine throw at the stumps from trainer Jerome Hunter and connections.
