Coco remains red hot to down rivals in Oaklands Plate
The Autumn Sun gains second stakes winner as Coco Sun proves too good for rivals in Morphettville feature
In an eventful race that saw four different horses take the lead from just a six-strong field, yesterday’s Oaklands Plate (Listed, 1400m) eventually went the way of the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun), who remained unbeaten to claim a first black type success.
Having ran out the winner of a 1347-metre maiden plate on debut at Geelong late last month, the filly was considered the likeliest challenger to odds-on favourite Dubenenko (Russian Revolution), with the market offering odds of $5 as the field left the barriers.
Jumping well from her gate in barrier three, the daughter of The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) travelled in fourth under jockey Ben Price, behind long-time leader Reel Whiskey (Highland Reel).
With the field pretty much unchanged approaching the home bend, Deadly Press (Press Statement) then made her move upon hitting the home straight and briefly led before favourite Dubenenko loomed large and took up the running, looking the most likely winner for a short period.
However, Price and Coco Sun were not to be denied and the filly produced a stylish late turn of foot to lead inside the final 100 metres and careered away to a comfortable length-and-three-quarter victory, beating Deadly Press who rallied late to regain second place.
Dubenenko, who was the only runner in the field with stakes-race experience, having finished sixth in both last November’s Ottawa Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) and this year’s Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), found little in the closing stages to finish third, a further short-head behind the runner-up.
Price, who was following in the footsteps of his father, Simon Price, who managed to win the Listed contest on three occasions, felt the filly had plenty of spring potential.
“I didn’t know that [my dad won three], I’ve still got two to go to catch up with him then,” Price told Racing.com.
“Teagan [Voorham, jockey of Dubenenko] probably came out a little early and that probably knocked my fillies’ stride a little. She sort of just lost her way a little early in the straight, but jeez she’s a winner and has got the right attitude to be a good horse and I think she’ll only get better.
“I do [think she’ll measure up in the spring]. She’s got all the right attributes and they gave me a lot of confidence this morning when I spoke to Calvin and Tony pre-race.
“They thought she would win today and she’s good enough to win better races than this, that’s for sure.”
Tony McEvoy revealed he was not sure how the finish would pan out after the strong–travelling Dubenenko managed to spot a gap between rivals entering the home straight, but echoed Price’s spring thoughts.
“I was a bit nervous at the 500 metres when Benny [Price] let the favourite out. I thought ‘what’s he doing here’, but the filly was good enough to overcome it once she balanced up,” McEvoy said.
“We have a lot of time for her. We have thought for a while that she is a filly that could figure in the spring. That was a great step today.
“If you look at the Geelong race, she was five and six wide, facing the breeze the whole way. She did an incredible job and ran the fastest 400 metres and 600 metres of the day.”
Bred by Wallings Bloodstock, Coco Sun was a $250,000 purchase for McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock from the Tyreel Stud draft at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and now races for New Zealand businessman and former cricketer Terry Jarvis.
“I am so excited for Terry Jarvis, who decided to buy the filly off us, and she is a ripper going forward,” McEvoy added.
“Her pedigree says that she will get further. I think we will protect her now, back off and give her a chance to digest it all.”
In winning yesterday’s $120,000 Listed event, Coco Sun (2 f ex Miss Hufflepuff by Encosta De Lago) became the second individual stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud’s first season sire The Autumn Sun, alongside Black Opal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) winner Autumn Ballet.
She is the third winner from four to race out the Encosta De Lago (Fairy King) mare Miss Hufflepuff, a $470,000 purchase for Belmont Bloodstock and Tyreel Stud from the Rothwell Park draft at the 2017 National Broodmare Sale.
A sister to the champion Hong Kong stayer Liberator and stakes-placed winner Pink Siris – who in turn is the dam of The Roses (Gr 2, 2000m) winner Etana (Shamus Award) and stakes-placed winner Echo Gal (Stratum) – Miss Hufflepuff had a yearling Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) filly sell to Stephen O’Halloran for $30,000 at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. After foaling a So You Think (High Chaparral) filly last spring, Miss Hufflepuff then missed to Hellbent (I Am Invincible).
The Autumn Sun, who currently sits in seventh place on the first season sires’ table, with his progeny amassing $462,622 so far this season, will stand the upcoming breeding season for a fee of $66,000 (inc GST).