Fourth successive Coolmore Classic for trainer Chris Waller, and James McDonald nears Damien Oliver’s elite win record courtesy of Lazzura’s determined score in the Rosehill showcase.
With 58kg aboard, Lazzura followed in the footsteps of Sunline (60kg) in 2002, the first mare in over two decades to conquer the Coolmore Classic (1500m) above 57kg, lifting McDonald to 128 Group 1 strikes.
One further elite victory will see him level the Australian record of the now-retired Damien Oliver, with prime opportunity next Saturday at Rosehill possibly via unbeaten Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes.
McDonald remained unassuming about the impending mark, highlighting Lazzura’s toughness and spirit as the true heroes.
“It’s a funny feeling because ‘Ollie’ (Damien Oliver) is so great, I don’t feel like I should be in that echelon just yet,” McDonald said.
“I feel very privileged to be in the position where I’m getting there slowly.
“It wasn’t me, it was her just really biting down on the mouthguard and having a really decent crack.
“I thought she was all-out with one hundred metres to go, but that will to find the line, it’s something you can’t teach them, you can’t train in them.”
She had notched a Group 1 minor placing in last year’s Surround Stakes (1400m), rendering this her first maximum triumph.
Resuming with a tight second in the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m), Lazzura’s hard-fought Saturday victory left Waller ecstatic.
“We had her a bit underdone first-up and rode her a pair too close. Today, we didn’t panic from the draw. We went back, got cover three-wide,” Waller said.
“I thought, following that run last start, you’re going to fold up that last hundred, but she was strong.
“Well deserved. She has been running around against some very good horses without a lot of luck going her way.”
Consultation with Lazzura’s owners precedes Waller’s autumn blueprint, pitting the Doncaster Mile (1600m) against the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) for April 4 and 11.
“I’ve got a philosophy that horses don’t just win one Group One. If they’re good enough to win one, they normally win two or three,” he said.
The $5 shot Lazzura resisted Arctic Glamour ($13) by a short neck, Vivy Air ($26) rallying boldly for third equidistant.
Savvy Hallie ($4.20 favourite) front-ran before capitulating to eleventh; Nash Rawiller assessed she wasn’t trip-suited currently.
“Disappointing on the day, but she will bounce back,” Rawiller said.
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