There could be two sets of War Machine’s racing colours in next month’s $3 million Stradbroke Handicap if mare Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) can make an impressive debut for her new trainers in Brisbane on Saturday.
Like last Saturday’s dominant Group 3 BRC Sprint winner War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel), Coeur Volante also carries the same navy blue and gold colours of major owner Rupert Legh, with both horses now with the Lindsay Park yard after coming out of the Mike Moroney stable following his death earlier this year.
War Machine has hit the ground running for his new trainers with some highly impressive performances and Ben Hayes said he is hopeful Coeur Volante can manage something similar when having her opening run for the Euroa-based trainers in a 1200-metre Stakes race on Saturday.
“She’s got plenty of talent and she settled in really well, so we’re looking for a bold run on Saturday in the (Listed) Coughlan Stakes,” Hayes said.
“She’ll do a piece of work tomorrow and then we’ll kick her off over 12 (1200m) and her grand final is the mares Group 1 (Tatts Tiara on June 21).
“But if she comes out and wins well on Saturday, we could consider running her in the Stradbroke or in the Dane Ripper on the same day.”
War Machine is now the $5 Stradbroke favourite after his performance at Doomben, with the emerging galloper likely to receive a low handicap of 52 or 53 kilograms in the Stradbroke when weights are released on Monday.
“He’s a very exciting horse and we’re very lucky to get him,” he said.
“He goes straight to the Straddie and I suppose the only negative is that Blake (Shinn) can’t ride that low so we’ll need to find another jockey.
“Fourth-up, hitting the Group 1 with no weight, it’s a pretty good scenario.”