Site crafted and built by Kick Collective
Source: racenet.com.au
Champion trainer Chris Waller has prized colt St Gotthard trying to join stallion sibling Switzerland on the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) honour roll.
Switzerland gave record-holder Waller a sixth Coolmore in 2024 after successes with Zoustar (2013), Brazen Beau (2014), Japonisme (2015), September Run (2020) and Home Affairs (2021).
Waller has St Gotthard ready to peak in the Coolmore after being runner-up in both the Group 2 Run To The Rose Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) in Sydney.
“St Gotthard is a relatively lightly-raced horse, a really good run in the Golden Rose and since then he’s been set for this race,” Waller said.
“He had a quiet trial in Sydney and a jumpout (at Flemington last Friday morning), so all systems go for a big run (in the Coolmore).
“This is the real pinnacle for a three-year-old colt to really stand himself as a stallion and that’s what the Coolmore team (managing owners) are all about.”
Coolmore paid $2.7m for St Gotthard last year out of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
“He started his two-year-old career late and made an impact straight away and came back really well at three,” Waller said.
“He’s ready to peak on Derby Day here at Flemington.”
The Next Episode ($2.50) is favourite to win the Coolmore from Satono Glow ($4.540), St Gotthard ($5), Natural Fling ($7) and Paradoxium ($11).
Waller said St Gotthard profiled similar to past Coolmore winners including brother Switzerland.
“There’s plenty of quality about him, he’s got speed and talent and James McDonald has been very impressed with him right from day one,” Waller said.
“So that, to me, tells me he’s got the ability and it’s just bringing it all together and making sure he’s ready to peak (on Saturday).”
St Gotthard placed third in a tickover 800m jump out last Friday at Flemington behind Paradoxium and Waller stablemate Sequinned.
Sequinned could be held over for the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m) on Oaks Day at Flemington.
“She’s a bit of an unknown, she keeps improving, very well bred, a Godolphin filly, so we’re just weighing up whether she could take on the boys after a very impressive win last start in easier grade,” Waller said.
“She would run on Oaks Day, there’s an 1100m fillies’ race, if we decide to take her there.”
Affari, a daughter of Coolmore winner Home Affairs, also contested the jump out last Friday but Waller conceded the filly was there more so for the straight experience.
“I doubt she’s right up to a Coolmore yet, maybe the Vanity (Stakes) on Derby Day,” Waller said.
“The beauty of the spring is it makes horses (and) unearths the new stars, hopefully, she’s one of them.”