One-time Caulfield Cup hope Colette has come back from a foot complaint to record a comfortable win at Caulfield.
After missing work and two races on the way to a potential Caulfield Cup start, Godolphin and trainer James Cummings elected instead to start Colette in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
It was Colette’s class that shown through under Damian Lane as the $2.45 favourite raced to a 1-¼ length win over Steinum ($10) with Aidensfield ($20) a length away third.
Cummings’ Melbourne representative Sean Keogh said regular trips to the beach to treat a foot abscess had helped Colette who was a race eve scratching from the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 2 and could not take her place in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) the following week.
Keogh said Colette hasdbeen fitted with an Equicast three-quarter shoe to strengthen the foot.
“The abscess was so stubborn that it weakened the foot a little bit,” Keogh said.
“The farriers in the week leading up spent plenty of time with her so we could get the solid gallops into her but there were plenty of days at the beach between her work and we kept her ticking over.
“She had the preparation for the Caulfield Cup, and she had plenty of work in her and we felt she had residual fitness that she would have held for today.
“It was great to see her pull it off.”
Colette remains in contention for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley next Saturday while the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 30 could be a consideration.
Lane said the last thing he wanted to be do was to get caught flat-footed having originally been trained for a staying prep.
“But that’s exactly happened,” Lane said.
“To her credit, between the 400 (metre mark) and the 250, it was really where she made good ground and killed the race.
“They’ve done a great job with this mare, and I’d say her spring is not over yet.”