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Coto De Caza claims Cornwallis prize

3 minute read

Coto De Caza made her first outing in group company a winning one when hanging tough to land the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket.

COTO DE CAZA winning the Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket in England. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

An impressive winner of a five-furlong novice event at Beverley on her second outing, Simon and Ed Crisford's filly once again advertised her clear potential with a commanding two-and-a-half length victory in the Alice Keppel Fillies' Stakes at Goodwood in July.

The daughter of Sioux Nation travelled keenly when third in the Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr last month, but after looking much more amenable in the hands of Harry Davies this afternoon, she bounced back to winning ways with a hardy performance at racing headquarters.

After tracking the free-going River Seine towards the stands' side rail, Coto De Caza readily moved to the front approaching the two-furlong marker and in all truth, she looked to have the race in safekeeping. However, the Fozzy Stack-trained Irish raider Grande Marques emerged from the far side group in an attempt to throw down a challenge. Although William Buick's mount continued to close the gap, the line came in time for Coto De Caza, who hung tough to score by three-quarters of a length.

Kullazain finished back in third, although favourite Midnight Thunder never looked like landing a blow

Speaking of the 13/2 winner, co-trainer Ed Crisford said: "She did that really well and travelled superbly. She came down the stands side and it was hard to know if she was in front or not, but she's a talented filly and she did it very gamely in the end.

"At Ayr, she just jumped a bit slow, and the race got away from her a little bit. She made her ground from the two-furlong pole to the one and by the time she got to the winning line, she had sort of tired a bit.

"She's a talented filly and it's just about keeping the lid on her really, as she's highly strung. If we can keep the lid on her, then she can put up performances like that.

"I think she still has some growing to do and she's a quick filly, but we will have to see how she winters and how she comes through that and then make a plan from there. I would say she would be done now."

He added: "You have all those good five-furlong races you can aim at next year, she's a Group Three winner now and we can aim high now. Whether she ends up in a King's Stand or something like that, I don't know, but we will just see how she does over the winter."

Fozzy Stack confirmed his runner also looks likely to be finished for the season. He said: "She's run another good race and it's probably a little annoying they weren't racing closer together.

"It was the same for both of them and whether there is a track bias or not, only time will tell, I suppose. She's won the race on her side very well and she's a lovely filly to look forward to next season. If we keep turning up, she will surely put her head in front somewhere.

"There's a fillies' Listed race at Cork in the middle of May and we will probably start off there and see where we end up."