2025 Coolmore Classic Day Tips & Preview

The Extreme Cat resumes.

A son of Extreme Choice, the gelding was racing well last campaign putting together back to back wins but was sent to the paddock after pulling up lame here in September.

He looks to have returned in top order following two encouraging trial performances, the latest which saw him hitting the line strongly when asked for an effort.

He does race well fresh and the 1200m first up looks ideal.

Hurstville Zagreb takes a big step up in class but the O’Shea / Charlton trained three year old looks highly promising.

Unbeaten in two starts, the gelding has already proven his versatility, saluting over 1500m in heavy conditions on debut before stepping out 1900m on a good surface at Canterbury, where he fought strongly to score by a length.

An improving type, I think he’ll continue to rise through the grades and he gets in here with just 52kgs on his back.

Zac Lloyd jumps aboard and from barrier three he’s set to enjoy a cosy run throughout.

Skyhook has been placed in both runs to date and looks to have plenty of upside heading into the 2025 Pago Pago Stakes.

Making his debut in the Pierro, the son of Written Tycoon settled in the second half of the field and finished off strongly into third.

There was a lot to like about his latest effort, hampered 300m from home in the Skyline, he lost all momentum but picked up strongly to charge along the inside and go down by only a half a head.

He draws nicely under Kerrin McEvoy and I think he’ll be very strong late.

Artistic Venture has been solid on all three starts and with even luck, she’s sure to make her presence felt in this year’s Magic Night Stakes.

A daughter of Trapeze Artist, the filly made her debut in the Inglis Nursery back in December where she was never closer the four wide and finished off nicely down the outside into fourth.

Given an eight week let up she then stepped out in the Inglis Millenium and after being held up in the early part of the straight, sprinted through along the inside to claim third.

Taken back to last off the wide gate at her latest she caught the eye when powering through late to finish a length off the winner in the Sweet Embrace.

James McDonald takes over and I don’t think the outside draw will pose too much of an issue as she does possess a brilliant turn of foot.

Lindermann has been superb in two runs back this time in and looks ideally placed here in the Sky High Stakes.

The Chris Waller trained gelding kicked off in the Apollo Stakes where he took up the running and showed a strong kick in the straight, with only Fangirl getting the better of him late.

Out to the mile last time in the Verry Elleegant Stakes he travelled sweetly and again showed plenty of fight in the straight, finishing less than half a length off the mighty mare Via Sistina.

He presents at peak fitness, he’s unbeaten in two appearances over the 2000m here and Nash Rawiller knows how to get the best out of him.

Lazzura has been strong through the line in both runs back this campaign and she looks to have found a winnable race in the 2025 Phar Lap Stakes.

The Snitzel filly made her return in the Light Fingers, where she ran home solidly into fourth and she was very honest again last time Surround Stakes where she collected her first Group One placing.

She should find this a touch easier than what she’s been contesting and the 1500m at her third run in looks ideal.

Tommy Berry stays aboard and she’s set to receive all the favours from gate two.

Pisanello resumes.

With just the eleven race starts the Godolphin galloper has now recorded five wins and has continued to improve each preparation.

Unbeaten in three starts during the Spring, he stamped himself as one to follow and he looks to have come back in top order following two pleasing trials.

The 1100m kick off looks ideal and whilst he does step out at stakes level for the first time, he won’t know himself with 53kgs on his back.

Zac Lloyd will do the steering for James Cummings and I think he can power over the top of them late.

Lady Shenandoah has continued to improve which each outing and she I’m sticking with her here.

She was ultra impressive when saluting first up in the Light Fingers and when tested by Lady of Camelot last start in the Surround, she showed plenty of tenacity to get the job done.

This will be her toughest test to date as she takes on the older mares for the first time but the fact that she clocked almost three seconds faster than the Amelia’s Jewel last start, which was the race prior, suggest she’s more than up to the task.

James McDonald will get down to 54.5kgs to retain the mount on the Chris Waller trained filly.

Pericles failed to finish off when resuming in the Futurity Stakes but he did have genuine excuses.

His rider expressed that he would appreciate a track with more given and a post-race vet examination revealed him to be exhibiting signs of EIPH.

More often than not we see horses bounce back quickly from that, so I’m happy to go with him here.

The Street Boss gelding has yet to miss a top two place in six second up appearances and he’ll certainly relish the drop back in grade.

He races particularly well here at Rosehill and the slight rise to 1500m looks ideal.

The only negative is that he does have to concede weight to the rest of the field but he’s the class runner and he will get the services of James McDonald in the Ajax Stakes on Saturday.

Harlem Queen returns to the races.

The Nathan Doyle trained filly showed her class in the Spring, kicking off with a maiden win before solid performances at the elite level.

Runner up behind Lady Shenandoah in the Flight Stakes, she finished off nicely to claim fourth in the Champion Stakes, warranting her a shot in the VRC Oaks in which she finished a very credible fourth.

She has performed very well in both first up outings and the 1300m kick off suits.

Her recent trial, where she worked home strongly behind stablemate Private Harry suggests she’s ready to fire and James McDonald will take the reins.