Since being eleveated to G1 status in 2006, the VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) has never been won by a Kiwi-bred, but that could change on Saturday.
Undefeated three-year-old Grand Impact faces his biggest test to date when he contests the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the son of Satono Aladdin is one of a trio of runners for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable in the stallion-making race.
The Cranbourne conditioners will present Group One winner Jacquinot ($5.50), last-start Group Three winner Grand Impact ($8.50) and outsider Bews ($91) in the dash down the Flemington straight six.
Kiwi bred Grand Impact has proven somewhat of a nice surprise to date, with the youngster showing little in his trackwork and he was well held in a recent Flemington jumpout.
But the addition of blinkers on raceday transform the galloper, who has long been set to peak in the Coolmore.
“We just trust the horse goes better on race day and gets it done, he is quite freakish like that,” Kent Jnr told SEN’s GiddyUp.
“In his jumpout at Flemington he was beaten by 10 lengths, but we were happy with that. It was just a way for him to look around with no blinkers on.
“Blinkers on on raceday, he is just a totally different horse. He has won each race quite easily, even in the Blue Sapphire (Gr.3, 1200m) he was half playing with them going past the line and going away from them again.”
Grand Impact, who will be ridden by Mark Zahra, has drawn the inside gate, but much of the speed has drawn on the far side in the straight race, while the colt has also proven he can handle rain-affected conditions, with the Flemington track rated a Heavy8 on Friday morning.
“We haven’t got to the bottom of him, and he likes getting his toe into the ground. I wouldn’t dismiss him at all,” Kent Jnr said.
“I am not sure whether barrier one is a good or bad thing, we will know by race six. He has got speed to jump and Mark can put him wherever he wants, whether that is down on the rail or in the middle of the track, we will work that out.
“He could not be any better, he just looks superb. Everything is in order with him and he is ready to go.”
Kent Jnr was also full of praise for his sire Satono Aladdin and believes the Rich Hill Stud stallion, an impeccably bred Group One winning son of Deep Impact, has a bright future.
“He (Satono Aladdin) was a champion miler and shuttles to Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand. He has only had limited runners in Australia, but they have all won in town. It is quite freakish,” he said.
“They (Rich Hill Stud) have been inundated with bookings for their stallion. I think these Japanese stallions are continuing to do the job down here.
“He is definitely a sire that is working in Australia and will continue to do so.”
Grand Impact was bred by Ross and Corrine Kearney under their Okaharau Station banner and the couple retain an ownership interest in the colt.
He was initially trained in New Zealand by Stephanie Tierney for whom he had two trials, winning over 800m at Ellerslie in January before his majority sale to clients of trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. – NZ Racing Desk
