While the Victoria Derby garners significant attention, the sprint race for three-year-olds is shaping up as one of the most keenly awaited events of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
The Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington this Saturday is poised to bring together a formidable collection of colts and fillies aiming to build their reputations for a potential career at stud.
A jump-out involving seven horses at Flemington on Friday provided an indication of some of the runners set to compete in Saturday’s 1200m dash down the famous Flemington straight.
Participants in the 800m jump-out included The Next Episode, Paradoxium, St Gotthard, Natural Fling, and Under Focus, with Paradoxium comfortably crossing the line ahead of his rivals.
Champion trainer Chris Waller, whose colt St Gotthard finished in third place, emphasized that the session was about gaining experience.
“Experience, that is what it was all about,” Waller stated. “St Gotthard is a relatively lightly raced horse. It was a really good run in the Golden Rose and since then he’s been set for this race.”
“He’s had a quiet trial in Sydney and then the jump-out and it’s all systems go for the big one next week. This is the real pinnacle for a three-year-old colt that hopefully can really stamp themselves as a stallion, and that is what the Coolmore team is all about. He started his two-year-old career late and made an impact straight away. He’s come back really well at three and he’s ready to peak here on Derby Day.”
Waller has an impressive record in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, having secured the win on six occasions, with Switzerland being his most recent triumph in 2024.
From the outset, Waller has been struck by St Gotthard’s exceptional quality.
“He’s got speed and talent, and James McDonald has been impressed with him right from day one,” Waller commented. “That tells me he’s got the ability and it’s just about bringing it all together and making sure he’s ready to peak.”
Ciaron Maher, aiming for his first Coolmore Stud Stakes victory, watched as The Next Episode finished fifth, in a group, behind the dominant winner Paradoxium.
The Next Episode has been specifically targeted for this Group 1 sprint since his victory at the Gold Coast in May, and followed this with a first-up win in the Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on October 3.
Maher, in line with Waller, brought The Next Episode to Flemington to enhance its experience ahead of next Saturday’s race.
“It’s been his aim all the way along,” Maher said. “He was great here the other day and he had a look down the straight before that. It’s a month between runs and he had a nice (on) bridle hit out, and he should present pretty close to spot on.”
Explore the top Australian betting sites for competitive racing betting markets.
