Brilliant Written Tycoon filly, Coolangatta (ex Piping Hot) produced a brave triumph in the G1 AJ Moir S. at Moonee Valley on Friday night to become her sire’s 12th individual G1 winner.
Star filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) translated the brilliance she showed as a 2-year-old into her Classic season, as she grabbed a much-deserved first Group 1 in the G1 AJ Moir S., continuing the impressive record for females in the top-flight contest.
In winning the race, which was elevated to elite status in 2013, Coolangatta continues the fine record for females in the Group 1 and becomes the 11th of her sex to win the contest in 21 runnings, joining the likes of Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), Samaready (More Than Ready {USA}), Viddora (I Am Invincible), Pippie (Written Tycoon) and She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain), who was the last 3-year-old filly to prevail in the Moonee Valley feature.
An impressive winner of the G3 Gimcrack S. and G3 BJ McLachlan S. last season, the daughter of Written Tycoon returned as a 3-year-old with a promising first-up run to finish third behind Rothfire (Rothesay) and Zoustyle (Zoustar) in the G2 McEwen S. earlier this month, a performance that left some lingering questions surrounding whether she had trained on.
However, she put any doubts to bed with her performance on Friday evening, shooting out the stalls with Jamie Kah in the saddle. After the filly began to draw clear in the straight, her stablemate Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) emerged from the pack and mounted a serious challenge, but just came up short, finishing 0.2l away in second.
Further back, the winner and runner-up’s stablemate Generation (Snitzel) ran a brilliant race to finish fourth. Queensland raider Zoustyle (Zoustar) finished third, while Coolangatta’s other G2 McEwen conqueror, Rothfire, had little luck in running and eventually came home in fifth.
Along with her brace of Group 3 wins as a juvenile, the daughter of Written Tycoon was also victorious in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, before running a good third in the G1 Golden Slipper S. on her final start as a 2-year-old.
It was a first win in the race for Maher and his training partner Eustace and the former said he was delighted with the performance of all of his runners.
“It’s fantastic. A super job by the team. It was her first run going this way the other day (in McEwan) and there were a lot of doubters that said, ‘What are you putting a 3-year-old filly in a race like that against those hardened sprinters?’
“I was very confident in the horse and knew the way she pulled up the other day. I knew she had a tough run but she pulled-up very well. She was very fit going into it,” said Maher.
“It was a super ride by Jamie (Kah). There’s not too many jockeys that can ride 50kg and ride as well as her at any weight.
“I thought she’d be sitting behind one, but she took the initiative, she took the luck out of the race. Full credit to the team. They have done a great job with her across the states and it’s a massive thrill to get a horse this early in her career to win a Group 1 like that.”
When asked if he thought Coolangatta could stretch out to 1200 metres, Maher said: “She probably can. There’s not much she can’t do, so around here again and I’m sure Jamie would like to ride her again. We’ll see how she pulls up, but it’s a big tick and if she did nothing else this prep, she’s a maturing filly and it was a big effort and a great thrill.”
Coolangatta was purchased by the Maher team for $280,000 from the Milburn Creek draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021 and she is out of the winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Piping Hot.
Piping Hot herself is daughter of Group 2 winner Ribe (Danehill {USA}) meaning she is a half-sister to G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Reaan (Hussonet {USA}).
In 2022, Coolangatta’s half-sister by Dundeel (NZ) was bought by Kennewell Racing, Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) and Trilogy for $300,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and this season she has foaled a sister to Coolangatta.
With Coolangatta’s victory in the Group 1, Written Tycoon’s total Group 1-winning haul has now moved to 12 and she is the second elite-level bred on the Written Tycoon / More Than Ready cross, with La Luna Rossa being the other.
Yulong Stud-based sire Written Tycoon is currently covering his 16th book of mares at a fee of $165,000 (inc GST).
Article courtesy of Thoroughbred Daily News Australia New Zealand, written by Lydia Symonds
