By Brad Gray
Tim Martin, who won his first Group One since Typhoon Zed in 2008, admitted after the Coolmore Classic that he is still in the game because of Heavens Above.
“I’ve always thought she was a Group One horse,” said Martin.
“This mare has been there all the way through and probably the reason I didn’t give training away.
“Full credit to the staff. She was behind the eight ball coming into the race. I thought she was a run behind.”
As for what’s next for Heavens Above, Martin said “she will run in the Doncaster probably.”
Heavens Above taking out the Coolmore
It was the second winner of the day for Tye Angland who earlier steered Second Bullet to victory in the Pago Pago Stakes before running second on hotpot Antonio Giuseppe in the Sky High Stakes.
“She is little but she has got a big heart,” said Angland.
“That was a gutsy win. She had to make up a lot of ground.”
“I did have to get her out of her comfort zone a little bit early which wasn’t ideal but that was my option to have a good crack at them late and she let down strongly.”
Silent Sedition claimed second in a driving three-way finish with Danish Twist third while young apprentice Andrew Adkins guided Daysee Doom into fourth in his first Group One ride.
Race favourite Omei Sword finished seventh but was found to have bled from both nostrils after the race and will incur a three-month racing ban meaning she’ll miss the Doncaster Mile.
Your #CoolmoreClassic winner Heavens Above! @rosehillgardens @atc_races pic.twitter.com/rYNoez0zui
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 11, 2017