Coolmore Classic conquered by Lazzura at Rosehill in bold display
James McDonald has drawn within a single victory of Damien Oliver's record for major wins, while Chris Waller notches his fourth consecutive Coolmore Classic thanks to Lazzura's valiant performance in Rosehill's premier contest.
Shouldering 58kg, Lazzura joined Sunline (60kg) from 2002 as the only mare in recent decades to prevail in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) burdened with over 57kg, elevating McDonald to 128 Group 1 triumphs.
Equalling the Australian benchmark established by Damien Oliver, now retired, requires merely one additional success, and McDonald is favourably placed for next Saturday's Rosehill meeting, potentially aboard flawless talent Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes.
McDonald, staying grounded, revealed the milestone wasn't preoccupying him and lauded Lazzura's tenacity and drive.
"It's a funny feeling because 'Ollie' (Damien Oliver) is so great, I don't feel like I should be in that echelon just yet," McDonald 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 one hundred metres to go, but that will to find the line, it's something you can't teach them, you can't train in them."
Prior to this, Lazzura earned a Group 1 placing during last season's Surround Stakes (1400m), making her Coolmore win her breakthrough at the highest grade.
She had been narrowly beaten on comeback in the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m), leaving Waller overjoyed at her determined effort to claim Saturday's prize.
"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," Waller said.
"I thought, following that run last start, you're going to fold up that last hundred, but she was strong.
"Well deserved. She has been running around against some very good horses without a lot of luck going her way."
Before settling on Lazzura's autumn campaign, Waller will confer with her connections, eyeing either the Doncaster Mile (1600m) or Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m), scheduled for April 4 and 11.
"I've got a philosophy that horses don't just win one Group One. If they're good enough to win one, they normally win two or three," he said.
At $5, Lazzura edged Arctic Glamour ($13) by a short neck, with Vivy Air ($26) closing strongly for third, matching that margin.
The $4.20 market leader Savvy Hallie dictated early but faded late to place eleventh, with rider Nash Rawiller explaining she wasn't yet ready for the full distance.
"Disappointing on the day, but she will bounce back," Rawiller said.
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