By Craig Kerry
Glen Thompson says co-trainer Michael Moroney always believed Coeur Volante was a group 1 horse in the making.
Now Thompson is hoping the four-year-old mare can handle the trip to Sydney and deliver, with jockey Kerrin McEvoy, what would be a fitting farewell for Moroney in the $1 million Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trainer Mike Moroney gives the thumbs up after Coeur Volante’s victory in the Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield on February 22.Credit: Getty Images
Moroney died on February 27 at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer, and the popular Melbourne-based New Zealand trainer has been fondly remembered by the racing community, including in a farewell service at Flemington on Tuesday.
“It was done really well, and it was a good send-off,” said Thompson, who had been co-trainer with Moroney since last year.
“His brother and daughter spoke, and one of our owners, Grant. It was good to hear their stories, and it was a fitting day.”
Thompson, the brother of Randwick trainer John Thompson, has been charged with keeping Ballymore Stables running, which has had three wins since its founder’s passing.
“The family wanted to keep Ballymore going in his name, so it’s a good opportunity for me, and I’ve just got to keep the ball rolling,” Thompson said.
“We’ve had a good run of late, so I just need to keep getting winners, that’s the main thing.”
A first group 1 victory for Thompson on Saturday will no doubt help his cause and also provide another tribute for Moroney. Coeur Volante was still under the name of Moroney and Thompson on Thursday, a status that will change soon.
“Mike always thought she was a group 1 horse, so hopefully we can deliver on his plan,” Thompson said.
The booking of McEvoy adds to what would be an emotional win for the combination. Moroney backed a then 20-year-old McEvoy to ride Brew to victory in the 2000 Melbourne Cup and connections were keen to have him aboard Coeur Volante on Saturday when usual rider Blake Shinn was unavailable.
“We were disappointed not to have Blake because he’s done a lot of the work on her, but once she got 54 [kilograms], he couldn’t ride the weight,” Thompson said.
“But we’ve got Kerrin on, and he had a long association with Mike, and it would be fitting hopefully for him to win another one with Mike.”
Coeur Volante heads to the 1500m Coolmore off a four-length win in the group 3 Mannerism Stakes when second up over 1400m on February 22 at Caulfield. A group 2 and 3 winner, then fourth in the group 1 1000 Guineas, as a three-year-old in Melbourne, she went to Brisbane in the winter and was unplaced in two runs before going for a spell.
Blake Shinn rides Coeur Volante to victory in the Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield on February 22.Credit: Getty Images
Thompson hoped the Proisir mare, a $90,000 yearling buy at the Karaka sales, would handle the travel better second time around.
“She’s a mare that we’ve always had a lot of time for,” he said. “She obviously was racing well down here as a spring three-year-old, but she just wasn’t a very big filly.
“The trip to Brisbane, she just struggled when she went away, so it’s just good to see her get back to this early form this prep. Hopefully she can go on with it now.
“That’s probably our only concern, how she’s going to handle the travel this time, but I think that trip to Queensland has seasoned her, and she’s come back a lot better for that, I think.
It would be an emotional day for Glen Thompson if Coeur Volante can take out the Coolmore Classic.Credit: Getty Images
“She has coped with her racing life a lot better now than she ever has, so hopefully it was that trip away and she can do it better.
“Group 1s are never easy, so we’ve just got to get her there as best we can and see if she’s good enough.”
Coeur Volante is a $10 chance with Sportsbet in a race where Chris Waller’s star filly Lady Shenandoah is a $2.30 favourite to land a fifth consecutive victory. Topweight Amelia’s Jewel ($7) and Lady Of Camelot ($6.50) are the other main contenders in the open mares’ feature.
Thompson said a draw in gate one should put Coeur Volante in position to challenge.
“Anywhere inside five or six would have been good,” he said. “I think similar to last time, she’ll be in the first four or five, and she should get her chance from there.
“If you’re up on the speed, it takes a lot of the bad luck out of the equation. We’re there to run well and travelling is probably our only concern.”
Thompson said Plymouth was set to make the trip north next week for the Rosehill Guineas.
