A rollercoaster week that saw Coolmore lose one of its best chances to win a Melbourne Cup has ended with Switzerland announcing himself as the star three-year-old colt of Australia with an emphatic victory in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Injuries and other setbacks had largely prevented Switzerland from putting his best forward in a seven-start career.
But the son of Snitzel put all that behind him, showing a blinding turn of foot inside the final 200 metres to win by 2-3/4 lengths and relegate the fillies Bellatrix Star and Lady Of Camelot into the minor placings in the premier three-year-old sprint in the country.
The victory was Chris Waller’s sixth in the race and was reminiscent of Home Affairs’ victory for the same connections two years ago.
Switzerland clocked 1 minute 08.30 seconds, the fastest by a three-year-old over the 1200 metres at Flemington, eclipsing a 20-year-old record in this race.
That fast time was set up by Bodyguard, who charged to a several-length lead early in the race. He came back to the field inside the 300 metres, while a host of challengers, including Growing Empire and Traffic Warden loomed, it as Switzerland who James McDonald peeled into the clear, who had the best sprint, putting the race to bed in a matter of strides.
Switzerland establishes himself as the benchmark three-year-old sprinting colt in the land and in the process becomes an immensely valuable stallion prospect for Coolmore, who paid $1.5 million for him as a yearling at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale last year.
He would now be worth 20 times that, but it would be unlikely his ownership group will let Switzerland go.
It was a big end to a big week for Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier. While the global outfit lost its contender for the Melbourne Cup, Jan Breughel, in contentious circumstances midweek, it also marked two victories in Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar, and now a win in the race it sponsors.
Switzerland claims the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. (Vision: YouTube)
Magnier, who is now setting sights on Royal Ascot with Switzerland, said the win was a reward for the patience Waller had shown with the colt.
“We obviously had a bit of pressure on Chris to run him in the Everest, but Chris said, 'listen, we have a plan, stick to it', so fair play to Chris Waller and you know James McDonald, it's a great job by them here,” Magnier said.
“So just delighted to be a part of it and we obviously had two Group 1 winners this morning and this just tops it off.”
“Chris knows what it takes to win at Royal Ascot. You know, Chris has always held his horse with a very high regard, he obviously got injured in the Golden Slipper, he got injured, he's had operations, he's had so much bad luck and it went his way today, but full credit to the Waller team.”
Waller said there was a great deal of pressure training for the major colt syndicates such as Coolmore.
“I just respect the success they've had and to be given that responsibility to be training high-priced stallions, I think it's something you never quite get used to, and the pressure does tell,” he said.
“They help you deal with it. It's very satisfying. On a different level, it's very satisfying.”
Bren O’Brien
While it was a Coolmore success, there was also an Arrowfield flavour to the race. Switzerland is the 21st Group 1 winner for his champion sire Snitzel, but the first of the Arrowfield stallion’s progeny to win this race.
The colt was also bred by Arrowfield in conjunction with Cloros Bloodstock. Arrowfield bloodstock manager Jon Freyer purchased his dam, Ms Bad Behavior out of the Fasig-Tipton sale in 2019 for $600,000.
Atishu atones in Empire Rose
Waller and McDonald were back in the Group 1 winners’ stall later in the day when Atishu claimed her third elite-level victory with a fast-finishing success in the Empire Rose Stakes.
Atishu, a winner of the Champions Stakes on the final day of the carnival last year, atoned for her second placing in the Empire Rose in 2023 by surging over the top of Amelia’s Jewel in the final stages. Queensland Oaks winner Socks Nation finished third.
It was a vintage ride from McDonald, who sat well off the pace before bringing the Savabeel mare with the final run. He and Waller had previously combined to win the race with Shillelagh in 2018.
“What a mare she, is isn't she? She performs, she just turns up and does it. Incredibly proud of her, delighted with the team that have produced her, just in immaculate order, and she's done the job,” McDonald said.
“I was a bit confident all week. Chris had a twinkling his eye about this horse. I was riding work on Tuesday and I walked into his office and all of a sudden he goes, 'Atishu will be winning'. I said, 'that'll do me'."
Atishu wins the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes. (Vision: YouTube)
Bred by Waikato Stud, Atishu races for the Go Racing syndicate led by Albert Bosma. She is one of 33 Group 1 winners for champion New Zealand stallion Savabeel.
Waller now has won nine Group 1 races in the first three months of the racing season. He is well on track to break his record of 18 set in the Winx era.
Gluyas continues family’s Golden derby record
Andrew Gluyas emulated the deeds of his father-in-law and former training partner Leon Macdonald when Goldrush Guru claimed the Victoria Derby.
It was a victory with a distinctly South Australian theme, with former Adelaide-based jockey Jamie Kah registering her 15th Group 1 victory and also emulating Clare Lindop, who won the race aboard Rebel Raider for Macdonald in 2008.
Gluyas had the son of American Pharoah prepared to the minute and Goldrush Guru travelled sweetly just off the speed throughout before taking control of the race in the straight and never looking like being run down.
He defeated Scary by 1-1/2 lengths, with a half-length to China Sea in third.
Goldrush Guru wins the Victoria Derby. (Vision: YouTube)
It was Gluyas’ first Group 1 win in his own name as a trainer.
“I'm speechless, overwhelmed, proud, satisfied. Great moment. I'll be celebrating in South Australia tonight,” he said.
“We often talk about Derbies. Leon won the SA Derby with French Cotton. That's the name for the French Cotton Lodge at home. We had a great run of horses running in the Derby. Gold Guru won the AJC Derby.
“Rebel Raider then stood up in ‘08 and won the Victoria Derby and then won our (SA) Derby. We had a few near misses with Hydrometer. It's folklore. We often talk about Derbies. When we prepare them and you get a good result like this, it's great that we can talk about Goldrush Guru again.”
Goldrush Guru, bred and raced by Harry Perks, is out of the same family as Gold Guru, whose half-sister is the Victoria Derby winner’s second dam.
It was the highlight of a big day for Kah, who had earlier fought back tears as she saluted aboard Another Wil, and then was smashed in the face by her mount ahead of the Wakeful Stakes, leaving her bloodied and temporarily stood down from riding.
She also finished second aboard Amelia’s Jewel in the Empire Rose.
“Obviously we love riding Group 1 winners, but it just makes it so much more special when it's for some fantastic people like Andrew,” she said.
“I used to ride for Andrew and Leon. I rode some shockers back in the day for them, so it was nice to repay them on the big stage on Derby day.”
American Pharoah, the US Triple Crown winner who shuttled to Coolmore Australia for five seasons, has now had back-to-back Victoria Derby winners after Riff Rocket’s win last year.
Emotions charged as Wil wins for McKenna and Maher
Earlier in the day, Another Wil delivered an emotional victory for trainer Ciaron Maher in the Group 2 Damien Oliver, less than a week after the death of the five-year-old Street Boss gelding’s majority owner Colin McKenna.
McKenna has been the single most influential figure in Maher’s development as one of Australia’s premier horsemen, both in terms of investment and mentorship, and the win in his green and blue colours meant a lot to the trainer.
“It's pretty special, just to have a lot of Col's family and friends in the horse,” Maher said.
“That's why he loves racing. He bred it. You know, he's no more passionate person and great mate, great mentor.
“He would just love to be here today, but I'm sure he's looking down and it's pretty special. I thought he'd run back to form. Janice (McKenna’s wife) is watching on at Woolsthorpe, so all the best to you.”
Ciaron Maher
It was also an emotional victory for Kah, who overcame trouble in the straight to surge through and defeat Maher’s other contender, Jimmystar. She said the McKennas had been incredibly supportive of her through her career.
“Janice, I spoke to her this morning. She's tougher than me. She told me, 'don't be a sook, you'll be right, be tough',” Kah said.
“What amazing people they have around Janice at the moment.
“It'd be extremely hard for her, but she's just so tough and she's coping so well. Today, I just wanted to make Col proud, and thank God we got the win in the end.”
Among the first to congratulate Maher was Jimmystar’s majority owner Ozzie Kheir along with Godolphin's Australian managing director Andy Makiv, who was a close friend of McKenna and who had advised him in his thoroughbred interests over the years.
Maher said he would consider stepping Another Wil up to the Group 1 Champions Mile, which will be held the day after McKenna’s funeral.
Bren O’Brien
