Egg Tart on track for Coolmore Classic

Egg Tart is the favourite to win her third Group One race in the Group One Coolmore Classic.

Chris Waller believes dual Group One winner Egg Tart is finally poised to recapture her three-year-old form at elite level in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.

Considered a rising star after winning the Schweppes Oaks and Queensland Oaks last year, her momentum was halted by an eye infection in the spring.

Waller said a lack of appetite also contributed to her winless spring campaign but Sydney’s premier trainer felt Egg Tart was back to her best during a luckless comeback in the Group Three Liverpool City Cup (1300m) earlier this month.

Egg Tart had a torrid run before winding up late for fourth, a length behind the winner Crack Me Up.

“The horse is spot-on. The first-up run was terrific and she finished off very well,” Waller said.

He said Saturday’s Group One 1500m-feature worked in perfectly with Egg Tart’s program.

Drawing barrier three and the services of Kerrin McEvoy were other advantages although Waller would have preferred a kilo less than 55.5kg.

Rosehill was in the soft range on Friday and providing there was not a significant upgrade Egg Tart appeared well-placed as the TAB’s $5.50 favourite on Friday.

“She’s pretty versatile, anything from a (good) 4 to a (heavy) 10 wouldn’t be a problem,” Waller said.

He said Egg Tart’s struggled on firm tracks in Melbourne last spring.

“I just think those really firm tracks might have got to her a bit and the eye infection maybe took a bit more out of her than we thought.”

Waller admitted Egg Tart faced a stiff challenge to win her first open age Group One race.

“It’s a genuine handicap field with some well-performed horses that are in pretty well at the weights and horses like us that are Group One winners,” he said.

The Ron Quinton-trained Dixie Blossoms was the TAB’s second elect at $6.50 followed by Godolphin’s Raiment ($7).

Heavens Above produced a Coolmore upset last year at $26 and the Tim Martin-trained mare is at $19 to become the first back-to-back winner.