Con caps comeback with Coolmore triumph

Imported mare Con Te Partiro has relished a rain-affected track to win the Coolmore Classic.

If not for the persuasive powers of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Con Te Partiro would have been in a paddock rather than winning the Group One Coolmore Classic.

The training duo guided the mare’s Australian career before she was retired to stud last year, failing to get into foal to Zoustar.

Re-enter Waterhouse and Bott, who got to work convincing Henry Field, principal of owners Newgate Farm, to put her back in work, adamant she had much more to offer.

“I worked for Gai as a lad and she is my absolute hero,” Field said.

“They tag-teamed me and said ‘please put her back in training’ and I’m glad I did.”

The decision was vindicated at Rosehill on Saturday as Con Te Partiro ($21) skipped through the wet ground to win the Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) by 1-1/4 lengths over Miss Fabulass ($41).

Noire ($12) was a further short neck away third with favourite Pohutukawa never a threat, finishing midfield.

Bott said Con Te Partiro’s win was no shock and his only concern had been the deterioration of the track to the heavy range.

“I said it wouldn’t surprise us to see her come out and do something like this today because we’ve made genuine excuses for her all the way through,” Bott said.

“She just needs all the right conditions and I thought we’d found another excuse with the rain but she got through it well.

“She is a stakes winner in America, a stakes winner at Royal Ascot and a Group One winner here.

“She has been around the world. She is a well-travelled mare and well credentialled.”

Tim Clark judged the race to perfection, idling Con Te Partiro behind the leaders and getting her out to the best part of the track in the straight.

The victory broke an 18-month Group One drought for Waterhouse, providing her first elite win since Prompt Response in the 2018 Tatt’s Tiara.

It also gave her a record-equalling fifth Coolmore Classic and Bott a first.

“Gai has such an amazing record in this race and it is such a great thrill to do it alongside her,” Bott said.

Kris Lees, whose late father Max Lees held the Coolmore training record outright before Saturday, again had to settle for second after providing both placegetters 12 months ago.

He said Miss Fabulass ran out of her skin.

“She was huge, I’m really proud of her,” Lees said.

“I’m never happy with second but if you’re going to run second it may as well be in a Group One.”

The winner will head towards the Coolmore Legacy Stakes (1600m) at Randwick next month and Bott has not ruled out a Doncaster Mile bid.