Sweet Idea story

Sweet Idea story

Sweet Idea story

The 31st running of the ATC Coolmore Classic at Group 1 level attracted a wonderful field of fillies and mares to Rosehill on Saturday, and unfolded in spectacular fashion when front-runner Steps In Time and jockey Jim Cassidy dared their rivals to catch them.

Only Snitzel’s 3YO daughter Sweet Idea emerged to offer a challenge but it seemed unlikely to succeed until jockey James McDonald summoned the 3YO filly’s great reserves of courage, and the pair began to cut into Steps In Time’s lead.

Doubts about Sweet Idea, racing for the first time beyond 1400 metres, and coming off the only unplaced run of her career, were reflected in the double-figure odds offered to punters on the Coolmore Classic. Those doubts evaporated as Sweet Idea lowered and lengthened stride to hunt down Steps In Time, whose audacious romp suddenly became a desperate battle between two indomitable competitors, each seeking her maiden Group 1 success.

At the line, it seemed that Steps In Time may indeed have found an extra step in time to claim the race and the official photo confirmed that she had prevailed, by a short half-head, with 2.3 lengths back to third-placed Catkins. Redoute’s Choice’s daughters A Time For Julia & Royal Descent made ground late to claim fourth and fifth.