Lazzura defies big weight to land deserved first Group 1
Chris Waller extended his remarkable hold on the Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday when the admirable Lazzura (Snitzel) handed the champion trainer a fourth successive win in the Group 1 feature.
The daughter of Snitzel was a four-time stakes winner heading into Saturday’s contest, headlined by wins in the Let’s Elope Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) and Phar Lap Stakes (Gr 2, 1500m) across two campaigns last year. Her best result at Group 1 level had been when third in last year’s Surround Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) behind Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel), beaten 2.9 lengths.
Ridden by James McDonald in the Coolmore Classic, the mare stamped her class when carrying the equal top-weight of 58 kilograms to a 0.4-length victory over Arctic Glamour (Frosted), with Vivy Air (Hellbent) flashing home a further 0.3 lengths away in third.
Sent off the $4.20 favourite, Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) led before weakening to finish eleventh of the 14 runners, with her jockey Nash Rawiller suggesting the filly simply failed to see out the distance strongly.
Lazzura became the first mare since the legendary Sunline (Desert Sun) (60 kilograms) in 2002 to carry more than 57 kilograms to victory in the race. It was a fourth-straight win in the feature for Waller after wins by Lady Shenandoah, Zougotcha (Zoustar) and Espiona (Extreme Choice).
“Well deserved,” said Waller, who enjoyed a stakes treble on the day completed by Birdman (Free Eagle) in the Peter Young Stakes (Gr 2, 1800) and Sixties (Flying Artie) in the latest renewal of the Phar Lap Stakes.
“She’s been running around against some very good horses without a lot of luck going her way.”
After being narrowly beaten by Cinsault (Brazen Beau) first-up in the Mille Fox Stakes (Gr 2, 1300m), Waller was pleased to see Lazzura show her fighting qualities.
“We had her a bit underdone first-up and rode her a pair too close. Today, we didn’t panic from the draw. We went back, got cover three-wide,” the winning trainer said.
“I thought, following that run last start, you’re going to fold up that last 100 [metres], but she was strong.”
The win also moved McDonald to 128 Group 1 victories, leaving him just one shy of the Australian record held by the now-retired Damien Oliver.
McDonald could have the chance to equal that mark as soon as next Saturday at Rosehill, where his rides are set to include unbeaten star Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the George Ryder Stakes (Gr 1, 1500m).
A humble McDonald said the record was far from his mind.
“It’s a funny feeling because ‘Ollie’ is so great, I don’t feel like I should be in that echelon just yet,” the winning rider said. “I feel very privileged to be in the position where I’m getting there slowly.
“It wasn’t me, it was her just really biting down on the mouthguard and having a really decent crack.
“I thought she was all-out with 100 metres to go, but that will to find the line, it’s something you can’t teach them, you can’t train in them.”
Waller said Lazzura’s next target would be decided in consultation with her owners, with the Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) or Queen Of The Turf Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) on April 4 and 11 under consideration.
“I’ve got a philosophy that horses don’t just win one Group 1. If they’re good enough to win one, they normally win two or three,” he said.
Bred by Arrowfield and Jungle Pocket, Lazzura was bought from the latter’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by B2B Thoroughbreds for $500,000 in 2023. She is out of the winning Japanese-bred mare Laguna Azzurra (Heart’s Cry), making her a half-sister to the Listed-placed winner Portorosa (Not A Single Doubt).
Laguna Azzurra herself is a daughter of the three-time Listed winner Silky Lagoon (Brian’s Time), who also produced dual Grade 3 scorer Seewind (Deep Impact). Arrowfield will offer Lazzura’s sister at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The filly is catalogued as Lot 383.
The win marked a 26th individual Group 1 winner for Arrowfield’s late great stallion Snitzel, who died last year aged 22.