MAL COUPE RESUMES WITH GROUP 2 TEST
- John Curtis
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Hawkesbury trainer has done a terrific job with the now five-year-old, who tackles the $1m Concorde Stakes (1000m) at set weights plus penalties.
Under the conditions he has to carry 56kg, only 2.5kg less than three joint topweights, which include last year’s Golden Slipper Stakes winner Marhoona.
Such was Mal Coupe’s progress in autumn that his benchmark rating shot from 78 to 96.
“Horses who are rated around the 96 to 100 mark aren’t necessarily the easiest to place,” O’Halloran said today.
“You have to take on the Group 2s and 3s, and we have no option but to do that first-up.”
O’Halloran has won six races with the son of Xtravagant, who hasn’t raced since finishing sixth to Mazu in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April.
He has trialled twice in preparation for his return, and was ridden both times by Kerrin McEvoy, who will be on rival Wanaruah in the Concorde.
“Unfortunately Kerrin had already taken that booking, so Tyler Schiller will ride Mal Coupe for the first time,” O’Halloran said.
“Mal Coupe was a bit soft in his first 900m at Rosehill Gardens on August 7, but was really good a fortnight later when second to Bev’s Nine in another 900m trial there.
“He has made further improvement since, but is still not 100 per cent in the coat.
“Obviously it’s a tough test tomorrow, but he has to kick off somewhere and will definitely take improvement from the race.”
Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard is rapt with the manner in which his talented mare Oui Oui Oui is coming up this campaign.
The five-year-old daughter of Yes Yes Yes hasn’t raced since finishing seventh in Lord Of Biscay’s $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 11, and Attard didn’t expect her to win her first 742m Open trial there on August 28.
However, with regular jockey Tom Sherry aboard, she burst along the inside rail under her own steam to defeat Farnicle and Miss Freelove.
“Oui Oui Oui went great, and will trial again before we take her back to the races,” Attard said today.
Oui Oui Oui, the winner of five of her 12 starts, is raced by a syndicate headed by Kate Nivison’s Etak Thoroughbreds.
