New Zealand
Coulthard signs off on a high
Saturday’s Harrison’s Carpet Hard Flooring 3YO (1600m) at Trentham brought the curtain down on Coulthard’s three-year-old season and hinted at an even brighter future as a four and five-year-old.
The Lisa Latta-trained Coulthard has made a favourable impression in his first racing preparation, which kicked off with a second and a fifth from his first two appearances in December and January. He was a three-length maiden winner at Waverley in February in his third start, then was beaten by a nose when second at Wanganui in March.
A first shot at black-type company produced a close seventh in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) at Trentham on March 29, followed by a big finish for third at Wanganui a month later. Latta picked out Saturday's $35,000 three-year-old race as a suitable sign-off point for the Redwood gelding's debut campaign.
Sent out as a $2.30 favourite among a six-horse field, Coulthard settled in second-last before beginning to improve his position coming down the side of the track.
Jockey Jonathan Riddell had Coulthard under a tight hold as he loomed outside the leaders at the home turn, and despite showing greenness in the run home, the favourite quickly put the race to bed. He dashed to the front and went on to win by three-quarters of a length from Canasta and Kosta.
"He still does a fair bit wrong, but he's a pretty smart horse," Latta said. "He relaxed nicely today, and then Jonathan got him into clear air and he finished it off strongly.
"I'll give him a bit of a let-up now and then bring him back for the spring. I think he'll continue to get better."
Bred and raced by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey under his NZ Thoroughbred Holdings banner, Coulthard has now had seven starts for two wins, three placings and $51,255 in stakes.
Coulthard is out of the More Than Ready mare Best Of British, who is also the dam of eight-race winner and Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) fourth placegetter Trident, along with the promising Hong Kong galloper Dragon Air Force who has won three times from an 11-race career to date.
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