Spring Carnival aspirations for Coeur Volante

The Mike Moroney stable has Spring Carnival aspirations with Coeur Volante after the filly broke through for her maiden win at Sandown.

The Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in mid-November has been touted as the possible target for the filly after her win in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (1300m) on Wednesday.

Settling second-last in the seven-horse field under Billy Egan, Coeur Volante, the $2.70 favourite, showed a brilliant turn of foot before racing to a 1-¾ length win from Lady In Pink ($3.70) with Clavadatsch a further 3-¾ lengths away third.

Wednesday’s race was a heat of the Taj Rossi Series which has a final at Listed level over 1600m at Flemington on July 1.

Coeur Volante made her debut over 1000m at Sandown on May 27, finishing an unlucky fourth behind Axzelina.

“It was a hard watch at her first start. It was definitely better today,” Moroney’s assistant trainer Glen Thompson said.

“It was a good ride from Billy, he kept her off the fence and out of trouble.

“She was travelling well. She’s got class written all over her, so we’ll see where she gets to.

“Her work since her run the other day has been outstanding. It was no surprise to see that today.”

Thompson was unsure of immediate plans for the filly after the win.

“The plan before today was to just try and win a race and then tip her out for the spring, but she won well today so one more may not be out of the question.

“I know the spring is the plan for her.

“The way she won over 1300 metres today, you would think a mile would be OK, so The Thousand Guineas, at this stage, would likely be the main aim.

“If she did happen to go one more now, there is an extra month with the Thousand Guineas now after the Melbourne Cup Carnival.”