One of the big improvers at Royal Randwick on Saturday is expected to be the Muswellbrook-trained Coella who will line up in the $160,000 TAB Highway Handicap (1600m).
Coella is prepared by Cassandra Stummer with the mare only having raced eight times for two wins and four placings.
Coella cruises home at Muswellbrook for jockey Aaron Bullock. Image by Bradley Photographers
Last start Coella was well-tried from $12 to $10 when fifth behind Sunchyme in a Rosehill Gardens Highway (1500m) two weeks back.
In the gloomy conditions and ploughing through a heavy track, Coella was back near last on straightening but finished strongly when clear to be not far off the placegetters.
Racing NSW Stewards noted the four-year-old: “Was crowded near the 1300m and approaching the 200m was held up when endeavouring to improve between runners”.
In Coella’s favour on Saturday is drawing the inside gate and a much drier surface, which is her preferred option.
Coella will be ridden by Jake Pracey-Holmes and appeals as great value as a $14 chance in latest TAB markets, with Matthew Dunn’s Texas Fireball (Tyler Schiller) the $2.50 favourite after firming from $2.80.
On the second line of betting is In Summer (Zac Lloyd – $4.20) in advance of Moritz Girl (Tim Clark – $5), the only other two horses under double-figure odds.
Pracey-Holmes only has the one mount at Randwick but heads to Tamworth on Monday for five nice rides.
– Racing NSW
