Coolmore Legacy Stakes

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See the 2022 Queen Of The Turf Stakes Preview and results.

See the 2021 Queen Of The Turf Stakes Preview and results.

The Coolmore Legacy Stakes, also called the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, was first held as a principal race over 8 furlongs (about 1600 metres) at Rosehill in 1972 when it was won by Refulgence in 1 minute 30 seconds. It moved to the metric measure of 1500 metres in 1973 and remained at Rosehill until 2013 although in 2008 it was held at Canterbury Racecourse. In 2014 it was moved to Randwick and the distance increased to 1600 metres.

From 2005 the Coolmore Legacy has been a Group 1 race. The major lead-up race has been the Group 1 Coolmore Classic normally held 4 weeks before over 1500 metres at Rosehill. The Coolmore Classic is a handicap so the better quality females are more suited by the weight-for-age conditions. Another 1500 metre lead-up race is the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes for three-year-olds at set weights.

Winners of this race require strength, elegance and speed. Three-year-old fillies have a reasonable record in this race and horses that ran well often went on to contest the Doncaster but now that race is run before the Coolmore Legacy. No Coolmore Legacy winner has won the Doncaster although some have been placed.

Last filly to win: Alizee (2018)

Multiple winners: More Joyous (2011 & 2012)

Fastest time (1600m): Alizee (2018) 1:34:94

Interesting trivia: 1997 winner Kenbelle won the 1996 AJC Australian Oaks.

Four horses have won both the Coolmore Classic and the Coolmore Legacy. These were Favoured in 1974, Camino Rose in 1999, Appearance in 2013 and Con Te Partiro in 2020, although Typhoon Tracy won the Coolmore Classic in 2009 and the Coolmore Legacy in 2010. Gai Waterhouse is the most successful trainer with eight wins, although her most recent winner, Con Te Partiro, is co-trained by Adrian Bott.

From the archives:

Coolmore Legacy Stakes Preview & Tips 2020

Track: Slow    Weather: Overcast

Following the early scratching of Miss Fabulass, a field of 16 runners remain for the $500,000 The Coolmore Legacy Stakes – Queen Of The Turf. Prizemoney has been halved in 2020 as a response to the coronavirus pandemic. Nine of them had their last start in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes a fortnight ago, two in the Doncaster last week and two in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes 3 weeks ago. The clear favourite is Funstar who is the only filly in the race and has 5 wins from her 8 starts. She won the Phar Lap Stakes then found the 2000m a bit far when 4th in the Vinery Stud Stakes last start. Second favourite is the pizza-eating Nettoyer who came from well back to win the Doncaster at long odds last start. Third favourite is Positive Peace who has now won five races in a row, culminating in the Emancipation Stakes.

Alizee is a talented mare who won this race in 2018 but has raced below her best at the last couple of starts. Miss Siska was 8th in the Australian Cup after consecutive wins at Caulfield. Pohutukawa was 9th in the Emancipation but is capable of improvement. Con Te Partiro won the Coolmore Classic then ran a credible 6th in the Doncaster. Noire hasn’t won this preparation but was 3rd in the Coolmore then 2nd in the Emancipation. All other runners are currently 16 to 1 or longer.

Coolmore Legacy Stakes Runner by Runner 2020

1. Alizee

In 2018 she won this race as a three-year-old filly, then last year she finished 1.3 lengths 6th after starting as the favourite. She won the Group 2 Apollo Stakes in February and then ran 5th in the Canterbury Stakes then 5th in the George Ryder Stakes. This is the first time she has raced in a mares race for a full year and she has to be considered an each-way chance back to her own sex

2. Nettoyer

Last week she came from the back of the field to win the Doncaster Mile at a price of 40 to 1 to get her first Group 1 win. That was a tough win and it was no fluke as she has won 4 from 8 races over this track and distance. She was very impressive last week and I expect her to be in the finish again over the Randwick mile.

3. Con Te Partiro

This Gai Waterhouse runner began her career in the United States and had her first race in Australia in May 2019 when she won the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic at Scone. She won the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on 14 March then ran 2.4 lengths 6th in the Doncaster last week. She has not won at Randwick in 3 starts at the track and is not in my top four picks.

4. Miss Siska

In February this mare won the Group 3 Carlyon Cup over 1600m then the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes over 1800m before running 8th in the Australian Cup where it looked as if she found the 2000m too far. She has drawn the inside barrier and is not without a chance at a place.

5. Sweet Deal

Five of this mares wins have been over 1400m and the mile is a bit of a query although she has drawn well in barrier 2 which will help. She won the Group 3 Triscay Stakes then was nailed on the line to finish runner-up in the G2 Guy Walters Stakes. After that she started favourite but finished 3rd in the G2 Emancipation Stakes where she seemed spent at the finish. She is another who could run a place.

6. Invincible Gem

Her last win was the 2019 Emancipation Stakes but she has been racing in Group races since then and has collected several minor placings.She followed 12th in the Coolmore Classic with 8th in the Emancipation Stakes and will find this field too hard.

7. Danzdanzdance

This lovely grey mare has had 3 starts this campaign for 5th in the G2 Apollo Stakes, 6th in the G3 Aspiration Quality and 6th in the Ranvet Stakes. She has not won or placed in 6 starts at Randwick and I don’t think that will change here.

8. Noire

Each start this campaign has seen improvement in this mare. She was 3.6 lengths 5th in the G3 Triscay Stakes, 1.9 lengths 5th in the G2 Guy Walters Stakes, 1.3,0.2 lengths 3rd in the Coolmore Classic then 1.3 lengths in the Emancipation Stakes after jumping awkwardly. On the basis of that she should be in the finish again.

9. Positive Peace

What a shame this mare has drawn the outside gate in a big field, She has won 8 of her 17 starts and has won her last 5 starts in a row, culminating with a 1.3 length win in the Emancipation Stakes at her first Group level race. If she can overcome he wide draw I expect her to be in the trifecta.

10. Unforgotten

In 2019 she ran 3rd in this race, 0.3 lengths behind the winner. She only managed to finish 11th when resuming in the Emancipation Stakes but generally improves second-up. However she hasn’t finished in the first half of the field in any of her races since 3rd here last year and I don’t think that will change here.

11. Miss Fabulass – SCRATCHED

12. Spanish Reef

This mare has 6 wins over this distance, and has not been far away a her last two races with 1.35 lengths 6th in the G3 Mannerism Stakes then 1.95 lengths 4th in the G2 Sunline Stakes. She would need to find something extra to be in the finish.

13. Amangiri

First-up she finished 3rd in the Emancipation Stakes, and generally she improves second-up. On the basis of that she is not without a chance.

14. Pohutukawa

This mare has had 4 runs this campaign for 3rd in the G2 Triscay Stakes, 3rd in the G2Guy Walter Stakes, 8th in the Coolmore Classic and 9th in the G2 Emancipation Stakes. She may not have handled the recent rain-affected trracks but I couldn’t back her here on the basis of her last 2 runs.

15. Delectation Girl

She had the best last 600m race sectionals when 3.6 lengths 6th in the Emancipation Stakes last outing, and was 10th in the Coolmore Classic at the start before. She hasn’t won for a while and is not one of my selections.

16. Fidelia

At her last 3 starts she has run 3rd each time – The G2 Triscay Stakes, G3 Matron Stakes and G2 Sunline Stakes. Although I don’t expect her to run 3rd again I do think the $101 currently on offer is way over the odds.

17. Funstar

Trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald are a great combination for this filly. She has five wins and two second places from 8 starts and only blotted her copybook when 4th in the Vinery Stud Stakes last start where the 2000m looked too far. Back to a mile and with 2.5kg less to carry than the older mares I am expecting her to win.

The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
17 Funstar
2 Nettoyer
9 Positive Peace
8 Noire