When Cooldini failed in the Mornington Cup on February 12 his Trainer Robert Smerdon was left scratching his head, but the son of Bernardini (USA) was back to his best on Saturday’s Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington. Part owners Michael “Changa” Shea, Judy Shea and Bec Shea travelled to Melbourne to watch the 4 year old gelding hold off a late challenge by favourite Prince of Penzance $3.40), with Outback Joe ($5.50) three lengths further back in third place to claim the $70,000 purse. Cooldini was the third favourite for the race leaving the gate at ($6).
Michael ‘Changa’ Shea is pictured with 3 time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Glen Boss
Tracking the early pace set by Durnford, Glen Boss eased Cooldini to the front 300 metres from home and he kept up a relentless gallop to win by a length. Trainer Smerdon said, “That was more like it,” He couldn’t go at Mornington, today he took up a spot and he was good to the line.
“He was terrific at his run before Mornington and Bossy was prepared to ride him today and committed to ride him in the Adelaide Cup Monday week so that’s where we’ll go.” Winning rider Glen Boss said the Mornington run was best forgotten. “I just completely put a pen through his last run, he just did not get around Mornington at all,” Boss said. “He just never travelled, he wasn’t there, but to his credit he was flat out all the race and only got beat four lengths so it wasn’t disgraceful.
Cooldini was purchased at the 2011 Inglis Premier Yearling sale by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock for $40,000. His overall record stands at 6 wins and 2 thirds from 17 starts for earnings of $309,565.
A half-brother to five winners including the Listed Seymour Cup winner Correct Amoondo (Snippets), Cooldini is the ninth foal of the Danehill mare Eliza Dane a half-sister to Listed winners Don Bellotto and Hysterical out of the dual Listed stakes-winner Formal Invitation (IRE) (Be My Guest).
Cooldini becomes the 25th stakes-winner for Darley Stud’s Bernardini (USA) who was represented by 10 yearlings at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale which ran on Sunday the 2 March. He will also have 11 of his offspring for sale at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
A new career over the jumps is on hold and an Adelaide Cup run is the focus for the young stayer. Trainer Robert Smerdon will also consider running the four-year-old in the Sydney Cup on the strength of his return to form in the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m).
After a disappointing seventh in the Mornington Cup at his previous start, the trainer said he was a little shaken. “He was terrible at Mornington, he came out of the gates bad, raced bad, he was never in it,” Smerdon said. “The only thing I can put it down to is that they’re constantly on a turn at Mornington.”
Smerdon planned to set Cooldini on a jumping campaign this winter, but he may revise that plan if he runs well in Monday week’s Adelaide Cup. With a distance of 3200 and a purse of $400,000 Cooldini may be setting himself an attempt at the race that stops the nation.
“We might give some thought to the Sydney Cup if he comes through Adelaide alright,” he said. Jockey Glen Boss put Cooldini into a prominent position from the jump and called on the gelding’s staying ability 600m out, asking him to put some pressure on his opposition.
Raced over 3200m, the Adelaide Cup is the same distance as the prestigious Melbourne Cup held on the first Tuesday of November each spring. The 2014 Adelaide Cup will run on Monday March 9, 2014.
