Chris Waller will set Kolding a Group 1 task in Sydney if the gelding can defy a betting drift and win the $5 million All-Star Mile.
Kolding has eased in the market for the 1600m event at Caulfield on March 14 after a disappointing fifth in last week’s Group 1 Futurity Stakes. He is now a $13 chance with TAB. But Waller is willing to aim high.
“He’ll definitely be coming back to Sydney after the All Star Mile, for sure,” Waller said.
“If he won the All-Star Mile, I would try him in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He’d then deserve his chance at 2000m.
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Kolding (left) has been allotted 55.5kg in the Domncaster Mile Picture: AAPSource:AAP
“Kolding’s a 114-rated horse now. I think he’d struggle to win a Doncaster with 56kg because you get so many three-year-olds in it with 51kg. He hasn’t been tried much over the mile apart from with a light weight in the Epsom and in the Queensland Guineas.”
If Waller decides against running Kolding in the Doncaster Mile and Queen Elizabeth, he may bring him back to weight-for-age racing in the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) a week after The Championships.
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Kolding, who won the Epsom Handicap and Golden Eagle in the spring, has been allotted 55.5kg in the Doncaster Mile.
He carried 50.5kg when defeating Te Akau Shark in the Epsom and is the $11 equal second favourite for the Doncaster along with a host of horses including Bivouac (53.5kg), Melody Belle (55.5kg) and Te Akau Shark (56.5kg).
Japanese raider Mozu Ascot, who was allotted 57kg, is the $8 favourite for the Doncaster.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who prepared Lys Gracieux to win the Cox Plate last spring, confirmed plans to send Mozu Ascot to Sydney after the son of Frankel thrashed his rivals in the February Stakes in Tokyo on Sunday to claim the second Group 1 win of his career.
Japanese raiders are at the top of betting for Randwick’s two richest races this autumn with Danon Premium at $4.60 for the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 11.
Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi will send Mozu Ascot to Sydney for a shot at the Doncaster Mile. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
“If any of Japan’s proven Group 1 horses like Mozu Ascot and Danon Premium are coming to Sydney for the autumn carnival then our bookies will be very wary of them,’’ TAB’s Gerard Middleton said. “We saw the ‘damage’ the Japanese did in the Melbourne spring last year winning the Caulfield Cup with Mer De Glace and the Cox Plate with Lys Gracieux.’’
Happy Clapper and Avilius were given the equal top weight for the Doncaster with 58kg.
Pat Webster’s fan favourite Happy Clapper won the Doncaster in 2018 with 57kg.
"I couldn't be happier with him, I think he's the best he's ever been"
Pat Webster chats to @LizzieJelfs about his old warrior Happy Clapper pic.twitter.com/GMzu4WEmbr
Avilius was also given the top weight (58kg) for the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on day two of The Championships on April 11 at Randwick.
Meanwhile, star runners Santa Ana Lane and Standout trialled at Rosehill on Tuesday and both looked very impressive ahead of big autumn carnivals.
Santa Ana Lane’s main target will be the $2.5m Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 4. He’s the $6 favourite while Standout is a $15 chance to win the feature sprint.
Originally published asWaller: Mile key to Kolding’s autumn path
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