Coolmore Classic tips, form & betting strategy | March 11, 2023

The 2023 Coolmore Classic is the standalone Group 1 feature on Saturday afternoon at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, and an enormous field of 18 runners are set to line up. As is always the case in the Coolmore Classic, many form-lines will be converging, with some low-weighted younger horses looking to take on the older fillies and mares.

COOLMORE CLASSIC ODDS

Where do we start in terms of the market for this year’s Coolmore Classic? You’re getting $6.50 or better for every runner in a wide-open edition of the race; however, online bookmakers currently have the Chris Waller-trained Zougotcha and Tressady Stakes winner Annavisto as equal favourites at the $6.50 quote. Ruthless Dame ($8) is on the next line of betting after her huge effort in the Group 1 Surround Stakes. Hope In Your Heart ($9) and top weight Hinged ($9) round out the gallopers in single figures. You can have double-figure odds for every other runner, with the market willing to give you a big price for some consistent types like Yearning ($18) and Sheeza Belter ($17).

COOLMORE CLASSIC SPEEDMAP ANALYSIS

There is speed everywhere you look in this year’s edition of the Coolmore Classic. Hinged (12) and Annavisto (16) have drawn very awkwardly, but you’d expect their respective early speed to offset the gates with the pair looking to press forward and lead if required. Expat (1) led them up in the Millie Fox Stakes, and we would expect her to keep the two mares crossing to her outside. Victorian raiders Toregene (4) and Pride Of Jenni (2) went forward in the Mannerism Stakes at Sandown, and you’d imagine they would be positive again. Mirra Vision (3) led last time, but with a more attractive draw it’s likely she’ll take the one-one. Hope In Your Heart (9) and Yearning (8) should get mid-field runs with cover throughout, while the dual-accepted Zougotcha (14) will be looking to utilise the light weight and press forward as well. Excelida (18) will have no choice but to be ridden towards the rear, as will More Prophets (15) and Mustang Valley (11). In such a big field, it’s going to be a massive benefit for those fillies and mares that can manage to find cover over the 1500m. The speed looks genuine, so finding their positions early will be crucial as to whether some backmarkers can sprint home at their top.

COOLMORE CLASSIC FORM & TIPS

Ruthless Dame was the unlucky galloper in the Group 1 Surround Stakes at Randwick on February 25, and we think can go one placing better in the Coolmore Classic. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained filly was brave when running into second behind Sunshine In Paris against the three-year-olds and was cast wide throughout the 1400m feature. She was up on the speed and just got headed on the winning post to be beaten a lip by a terrific steer from Ryan Maloney on the winner. The argument can easily be made Ruthless Dame would’ve won the race if she had gotten in, but it just never eventuated. This time they’ve drawn barrier 10, which looks ideal in this bigger field for her to find cover throughout the 1500m journey. She gets a 1.5kg swing on her main rival from that race, Zougotcha, who may not even be coming here with James McDonald booked to ride in the Phar Lap Stakes two races prior. Dylan Gibbons has been given the appointment on Saturday afternoon, and with the feather-light weight of 52.5kg, we think Ruthless Dame is the best of the three-year-olds at the price on offer with online betting sites and we’re willing to risk the fact Zougotcha will go elsewhere.

The Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes has produced two of the last three winners of the Coolmore Classic, and we think the trend may continue. Mustang Valley comes through that race on February 25, with the former likely to have won the race with any luck when sneaking the rails runs throughout. The Andrew Forsman team has Mustang Valley going brilliantly since arriving in Sydney, and her performance in the Guy Walter is proof of that. She’s fit enough now, and with a 3kg swing on Hope In Your Heart, we can’t let her go around at the $18 without something on.

Same goes for Yearning, who comes through the same race and was similarly unlucky. She was back in the field and never saw daylight until late in the piece but powered to the winning post less than two lengths of the winner. She drops 6kg from that run, and with the booking of rising star Zac Lloyd in the saddle, the $14 is worth a spec as well.

Hinged rounds out the top four with the booking of James McDonald showing clear intent from the Chris Waller yard. Her form behind Anamoe in the Chipping Norton Stakes reads extremely well, particularly since she got poleaxed turning for home by Mo’unga and still had the audacity to stick on and finish mid-field. She’s a clear danger and has the class to win, but with top weight and a tricky draw, she finds herself down into fourth in our number.

Don’t dismiss the overseas gallopers either – Purplepay and Times Square – who have claims with some quality European form. They miss the numbers, but expect them to put in a bold showing.

2023 COOLMORE CLASSIC SELECTIONS & BEST BETS

• 9

  RUTHLESS DAME

• 4

  MUSTANG VALLEY

• 13

  YEARNING

• 1

  HINGED

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