Top mare nearing raceday return in Australia

Class mare Coldplay is preparing for a Sydney stint before heading to the broodmare paddock Trish Dunell

Well performed mare Coldplay is coming to hand nicely in her new Sydney environment as she prepares for her last campaign on the track before commencing a breeding career.

The four-time stakes winner, including twice at Group Two level, has been transferred to the powerful Chris Waller operation by owner Gary Wallace, who races the Savabeel mare in conjunction with Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick.

Wallace had entered the mare in the recent Gold Coast National Broodmare sale but after failing to reach her reserve, he took the decision to send her to Waller for one more campaign before visiting Australian sire, Snitzel.

“Gary put her in at the Gold Coast with the plan of selling her if he could get the right price for her,” said Chittick.

“When she didn’t meet expectations we had a chat about it and he settled on sending her to Snitzel.

“There weren’t any options with us given she is by Savabeel out of an O’Reilly mare so the thought was to give her a campaign in Sydney before mating her in September and racing her on for the appropriate period if she justifies that.

“It all really depends on how she performs but I certainly think she is up to group quality over there if Chris can get her up to her best.

“I believe she is getting very close to trialling so it will be good to see how she has come up and where she can kick-off after that.”

Chittick also has high hopes for Coldplay’s younger sister, Eleanor Rigby, who he co-owns with Wallace.

“We’ve got Eleanor Rigby with Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and she is progressing nicely,” he said.

“She is rising three and has been to the trials for educational purposes a couple of times. She has pleased the stable, who think quite a bit of her, so I’m looking forward to seeing how she goes when she gets to the races.

“She is nearly ready to trial again so a race start shouldn’t be too far off which I would think will depend on what sort of tracks we get over the next couple of months.” – NZ Racing Desk

Recent News
28 January 2026

Patch Of Cosmo’s stunning comeback sets up Hong Kong Classic Mile showdown

In the sixth instalment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Road to the Derby series, Manfred Man’s Patch Of Cosmo (NZ) (Super Seth) is in the spotlight after returning from injury with a striking victory at Sha …

Read More
26 January 2026

Ardy party rolls on with new Hong Kong winner

James McDonald and Gold Patch opened proceedings at Sha Tin with a determined 1000-metre victory. The Ardrossan gelding held off strong pressure to score for trainer Francis Lui, continuing the stallion’s impressive strike rate in Hong Kong.

Read More