By Jordan Gerrans
Full of sass and giving the other babies in the paddock plenty of “curry”.
That is what stands out in the mind of Ciaron Maher when he remembers back to his initial thoughts when he first laid eyes on the filly that would become boom youngster Coolangatta.
A natural race horse – the leading Victorian trainer believes – Coolangatta is set to start as the red-hot favourite in the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic this Saturday afternoon at Aquis Park.
Maher and co-trainer Dave Eustace know exactly what it takes to win the show-piece race on the Glitter Strip – stable-mate Away Game doing so two years ago – with unbeaten filly Coolangatta favoured to add another Classic trophy to their bulging mantelpiece.
The laid back Maher has enjoyed a few weeks in the Sunshine State leading into Magic Millions day and recalled an exciting filly catching his eye at a pre-inspection at John Muir’s Milburn Creek farm in NSW.
“I just saw her in the paddock – she was not paraded or anything like that – she was just running around in the paddock,” he said of the eventual $280,000 purchase.
“I thought she looked very athletic and had a bit of sass about her.
“She was giving the other horses plenty of curry and she just looked like an athlete, fortunately we were able to get her at the sales not long after.
“In fillies and mares, you like to see them have a bit of grit and determination – or sass - as I referred to it before.”
The daughter of Written Tycoon has been a natural racehorse since from her first moments in the stable and that translated quickly to the early stages of her racing career, claiming the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick in October before grabbing the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes at Doomben.
Maher credits the promising two-year-old’s success to the stables decision to travel her around Australia in the early stages of her racing life – leading to increased maturity and strength.
The bay was purchased on the Gold Coast, went to the breakers at Wangaratta, on to the stables Ballarat facility, before stops at Caulfield, Sydney, Warwick Farm, Randwick and Doomben – where she has raced – before now being based at Eagle Farm and the Gold Coast in recent weeks.
She also spent a few days a Beaudesert spelling facility between her time at the Tony Gollan barn at Eagle Farm before settling in at Angela Plumb’s stable at Aquis Park.
Regular stable rider and strapper Josie Lynch, who has been with Coolangatta for much of her young career, jokes that all the movement around are like “excursions” but believes it helps bring on two-year-old’s.
Maher thinks it leads to a “well-rounded” race horse when they can see as much as they can.
“It makes them grow up and the more they see the better they are,” Maher says.
“It is like a kid really.
“She is a testament to that, she proves it does not matter what stable or track you take her too, she takes it in her stride.”