Coolangatta Dominant in McLachlan Stakes

Mark Smith - Sunday December 26

Gimcrack Stakes heroine Coolangatta erased any doubt about running a strong 1200m when keeping her record at a perfect two for two in a furiously run Group III Magic Millions BJ McLachlan Stakes at Doomben on Boxing Day.

Coolangatta stays perfect (image Brisbane Racing club)

With James McDonald in the saddle for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the daughter of Written Tycoon settled outside of the leader Extremaarty.

Given her head on straightening, Coolangatta quickly put the race to bed. Under a hand ride over the final furlong, Coolangatta defeated the Bel Esprit gelding Thelwell by two and a quarter lengths with Pariah colt Swiss Exile a long-neck in third.

Coolangatta is now odds-on to give the Maher and Eustice their second Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner in three years after Away Game scored in 2020.

“I thought she was going to be a little fresh at 1200m for the first time,” Maher said.

&ldq

Advertisement
uo;There was a bit of pressure, and we were happy to let the speed go, but she was a bit fresh and will be better for the run.

“She is a lovely, scopey filly and pretty clean winded.

“We were confident she would get the 1200m, but I will be interested in what James has to say.

“She could have almost gone to the (Classic) first-up, but she is an excitable filly, still learning her craft. I was happy to bring her here today.

“It is a tight sort of track, a bit like the Gold Coast, so she has had that experience.

“Away Game came here before the Magic Millions, so it has worked before.”

“It’s great to get another winner for Ozzie (Kheir), John O’Neil, Brae (Sokolski). There are a lot of good owners, and Will Bourne our bloodstock manager, his mother is in the horse so shout out to Deb.”

Bred by Highclere Stud Australia, Coolangatta was a $280,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Milburn Creek draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Coolangatta a $280,000 Magic Millions Yearling

A half-sister to the promising 3yo Snitzel gelding Snitzonfire, Coolangatta is the second foal of the Sydney winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Piping Hot.

A $320,000 purchase by John and Jake Warren at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Piping Hot is a half-sister to the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reaan (Hussonet), a daughter of the Group II Moonee Valley Oaks winner Ribe (Danehill).

Piping Hot has a yearling filly by Dundeel and was covered by Capitalist last spring but missed.

Reigning Champion stallion, Written Tycoon has 44 catalouged for the Magic Millions and six in the Inglis Classic

Advertisment

Race Result - M.Millions B.J. McLachlan Stks Gr3 1200m

Doomben Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:11.53
1
Coolangatta
- 2f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Piping Hot (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $800,000
Seller: Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Highclere Australia
2
2.3
Thelwell
- 2g Bel Esprit (AUS) x Di Maria (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Sharryn Livingstone Rdr: Justin P Stanley 57
Bel Esprit
3
2.7
Swiss Exile
- 2c Pariah (AUS) x Swiss Francs (NZ) (Swiss Ace (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Ryan Maloney 57
4
4.9
Bright Blue Sky
- 2f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Blue Blue Sky (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: J Byrne 55
5
5.1
Allude
- 2c Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Refer (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: M R Du Plessis 57
6
8.3
Palazzo Spirit
- 2c Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Palazzo Pubblico (AUS) (Conatus (AUS))
Tnr: S O'Dea & M Hoysted Rdr: Baylee Nothdurft 57
7
10.3
Hattusa
- 2f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Hittite (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Ms H Page Rdr: Ms S Thornton 55
8
11.1
Proud Of You
- 2c Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Wedgetail Eagle (AUS) (Lure (USA))
Tnr: Allan Chau Rdr: L R Dittman 57
9
21.1
Extremaarty
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x Anabarbie (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Kacy Fogden Rdr: Boris Thornton 57
More Reading...
Coolangatta Earns a Trip to Royal Ascot after Capturing Black Caviar Lightning Stakes
The odds-on favourite Nature Strip finished unplaced, while the three-year-old Written Tycoon filly Coolangatta claimed a second Group 1, which was the wash-up from a thrilling $1,000,000 Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Coolangatta All The Way in Moir Stakes
The flying Written Tycoon filly Coolangatta found conditions to suit when returning to the winners list in Friday’s $1,000,000 Group 1 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Written Tycoon's Coolangatta Superb in the Gimcrack
A second consecutive winner of the Group III Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and reigning champion stallion Written Tycoon as the brilliant Coolangatta confirmed her place at the head of betting for the Golden Slipper.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Written Tycoon's Coolangatta Triumphs in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic
Written Tycoon filly Coolangatta kept up the great strike rate for favourites in the $2,000,000 Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast when she held the challenge of the game Russian Conquest.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.