Classy mare Krone has had no luck in three runs over 1600m, but she’s earned another opportunity to conquer the distance for the first time in the Group Three Sapphire Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
The Sapphire Stakes was originally run as the Glenlogan Park Stakes and has been won by some top mares in the past decade including Group One performers Ortensia and Srikandi.
Krone was originally trained by Mick Price in Melbourne and while she has won only twice both were in Listed company – Sydney’s Darby Munro Stakes and Adelaide’s Cinderella Stakes.
She has also been placed in Group Two and Group Three races.
Krone was sent to Queensland’s premier trainer Tony Gollan with the aim of chasing more black type in the winter.
She has had three runs for Gollan including a second in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes at Doomben two runs back.
At her most recent outing she came from last when beaten about a length into fifth place in the Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Gollan is confident Krone will handle the Doomben 1600m and pointed out her previous runs at the distance had yielded a second in the Group Two Manifold Stakes, an eighth (beaten 2-3/4 lengths) in the Group One Thousand Guineas, and a fourth in the Group Two Moonee Valley Classic.
Gollan believes Krone just needs luck to add a Group Three win to her record.
“Her first run for us was at the Gold Coast and it was pretty ordinary,” Gollan admitted.
“But we made a slight change to her race gear and her other two runs here have been very good.”
“She has been getting back in her races but the pace is usually on in 1600m races at Doomben so that should suit her.”
Krone is listed in the Magic Millions National sale starting on July 20 with Group One winners such as Sunlight, Invincibella and Unforgotten featured in the catalogue.
Sunlight is expected to challenge the record of $3.4 million – for Deep Field’s dam Listen Here – when she is sold.
There is a large number of stakes winning mares also listed including several who are currently trained by Gollan: Hollaback Girl, Shalwa, Solar Star, Shamurt and Twitchy Frank.
Former Tasmanian mare Twitchy Frank trialled on Tuesday and has accepted for the Listed Spear Chief Stakes (1350m) on Saturday.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au
