In an exciting finish to a memorial edition of the Coolmore Classic in 2024 at Rosehill, the cream rose to the top as Chris Waller’s class mare Zougotcha dug deep and dove late to secure a narrow but eye-catching Group 1 victory.

2024 Coolmore Classic winner Zougotcha was brave late diving on the line to salute for the punters. Photo: Steve Hart.

For her master trainer it was Group 1 victory number 157, while high-flying hoop James McDonald timed his run to perfection to snap up his 90^th elite level victory in this year’s Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Classic (1500m).

“It was good. Very rewarding, simple as that,” Waller said post-race.

Four-year-old Zoustar mare Zougotcha ($3.30F) was the heavily-backed favourite at her pet track where she came off a lead-up Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) victory fresh last month.

She kept the wins coming enjoying success in the day’s Sydney feature at the same meeting she won the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes over the boys last year.

Zougotcha added a second Group 1 victory to her growing CV and her first as a mature mare having won the Flight Stakes in 2022 as a three-year-old filly.

She carried the top weight of 57kg in the Coolmore Classic and really showed off her class in chasing down the front running filly Tropical Squall.

“She was brilliant first-up and she carried the top weight in a good field today and beat them,” Waller said of the winner.

Last start winner of the Surround Stakes, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Tropical Squall was best out the barriers taking on the older mares in the Coolmore.

She crossed from the outside draw to get the rails and lead, while J-Mac was happy to settle on the inside sixth in running aboard Zougotcha.

Tropical Squall was revved up still in the lead with 300m to go, but once the favourite got out into the clear she started her run home.

The other challenge came from wide out with the Ciaron Maher-trained Winning Rupert four-year-old, Semana ($12), winding up down the outside in a fast finishing effort.

Zougotcha hit the lead with 100m to go, driving through and getting to the line first by a neck.

Semana ran a close second nearly handing Maher with the day’s two interstate feature victories following the two-length success of Pride Of Jenni at Caulfield in the 2024 All-Star Mile earlier in the day.

The photo for third went the way of the Gary Portelli-trained Kimochi ($11) who completed the Coolmore Classic trifecta just ahead of Tropical Squall ($8.50) who held for fourth.

Waller said that the Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 6 was an attractive next-up option for Zougotcha or, should she receive too much weight from the handicappers, the Group 1 $1 million Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) the following weekend.

“She would probably progress to a Doncaster,” he said.

“If she gets too much weight via a re-handicap we’d go to the fillies and mares’ race (Queen Of The Turf Stakes) on the last day (of The Championships) which would be easier than a Doncaster.”

Zougotcha is at $11 in pre-field 2024 Doncaster Mile betting at Ladbrokes.com.au – available by clicking here.

2024 Coolmore Classic Race Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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