Coeur Volante skips Tatts Tiara, targets Caulfield riches

A year ago, Coeur Volante was in preparation for the Tattersalls Tiara. While her elite Group 1 aspirations might have passed, the opportunity for lucrative earnings remains.

The daughter of Proisir, a recent victor at Sandown, will now contend for more prize money in the $150,000 open handicap over 1400 metres at Caulfield next Saturday.

The five-year-old is almost certainly destined for Widden's breeding barn later this year, with Zoustar slated to cover her. Co-trainer Ben Hayes, however, sees no impediment to her continuing her racing career in the interim.

"It's a chance for her to make some more money before the new breeding season," he commented.

"She's already a Group 2 winner and the only way you can improve the pedigree is winning a Group 1 and the only Group 1 left is the Tatts Tiara, which is next week and she's not running there.

"She'll probably race into spring."

Coeur Volante captured the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) while under the care of Mike Moroney and Glen Thompson, a mere week before Moroney's unfortunate passing last February. Thompson then assumed control of the $90,000 Karaka yearling, who had previously achieved success in the Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield.

She had a challenging run when finishing fourth in the 2023 Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m), a race Joliestar ultimately won.

Her participation in last year's Tattersalls Tiara marked her most recent Group 1 engagement, where she finished second-last in a field of 18 competitors.

The mare was previously put up for sale by her owners via Inglis Digital in November. She was subsequently purchased by Widden and Bangaloe Stud for $500,000. In her initial two starts for her new connections, she secured a third-place finish in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes, followed by her winning performance over 1400m at Sandown on June 13.

"It's all worked out well with her and she was a nice, impressive win," Hayes remarked.

"It was really good to get her back in the winner's stall."

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