Crown of Coureuse Wins Australia’s First 2yo Race of the Season
She may have trialled fourth last week, but Crown of Coureuse had enough gusto to shoot past her rivals to win Australia’s first two-year-old race of the season on Saturday at Clifford Park.
A crowd of almost 1000 watched on as the Canungra bay filly downed favourite Canningly ($3.20 fav) by three and a quarter lengths as well as star trialler Prefect ($5.10) in the capacity field Fitton Insurance Hopeful Plate 1000m.
Crown of Coureuse opened in the betting at $24.60, somewhat justified by her fourth placing in a Two-Years-Old Fillies (1) 650m barrier trial on September 13, which was won by Neville Saunders-trained Prefect.
Stable foreman Chris Hull said her preparation gave a good indication of what she could do.
“She’s a very sensible filly. She was only beaten by a length and a half in the trial in Toowoomba last week,” Hull said.
He said trainer John Thompson has the facilities at their base at southeast Queensland town Canungra to trial their own horses.
“We can trial at our place which is great,” he said.
Gold Coast jockey Matthew Palmer said he has been racing in Sydney for the onset of the spring carnival and jumping onboard for Thompson and replacing Toowoomba rider Gary Geran was a late decision.
“I took Gary Geran’s ride in the last race (Cluziel) to not much avail, so it’s great to come back with a win,” Palmer said.
Focusing on his Toowoomba record, Palmer said he rode on the 2010 Weetwood Cup Day to claim a third and his first ever Fitton Hopeful Plate entry on Saturday was worth every dollar.
“Mid race she travelled well, but once I gave her a squeeze she moved along,” he said.
“I have no idea what the horse cost; they (the owners) would’ve payed a packet.”
With $48,000 going to the winner of the $75,000 25-year-old race, it indeed seems Crown of Coureuse paid dividends for owner Patinack Farm Racing.
It is understood that the winning horse of the annual Fitton Hopeful Plate usually has enough money in the bank to get it to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January.
Story - Brandon Long
Photo - Trackside Photography
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