$1.4m boom colt Central Coast salutes as $3m baby Ernaux falls at Canterbury
High-priced colt Central Coast, the son of former Group 1 gun Sunlight, gave odds-on backers a few nervous moments before Chris Waller's $1.4m baby showed a glimpse of his promise to breakthrough at Canterbury on Wednesday.
But it wasn't all smooth sailing for the Waller camp as $3m stablemate Ernaux went under at the same venue less than an hour later.
Waller's $4.4m duo ensured there was plenty of interest at an otherwise regulation midweek metropolitan meeting.
Central Coast didn't disappoint despite needing some luck to get on the board at start two in the Myplates Maiden Handicap (1250m).
After being narrowly beaten as a $1.65 favourite on debut last week, Central Coast was sent out as a $1.40 elect and caught on heels throughout much of the two-year-old event.
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus was able to get into the clear when it counted as Central Coast surged clear late to score from a trio of stablemates, led by Crossbow ($19).
'We are very pleased with that,' Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said.
'It was a bit of a nervous watch really. He was very keen down the back which I didn't anticipate to be honest.
'He is a beautiful and calm but he did he get up on the bridle for him and Adam (Hyeronimus) did just have to bide his time in the straight.
'He was very good late.'
Regally bred Central Coast gets the job done at Canterbury, and that's the First 4 to @cwallerracing after he trained the Quinella in Race 1 at Doomben as well! ðŸ'° @aus_turf_club @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/vDeK9IKN3a
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 18, 2025
Central Coast is the second foal out of three-time Group 1-winning mare Sunlight, which sold for $4.2m as a broodmare prospect in 2020.
Her first foal is Listed winning colt Dawn Service.
Duckworth indicated Central Coast could possibly head towards the Listed $160,000 Tattersall's Stakes (1400m) in 10 days time at Eagle Farm or go for a break to begin preparing for his three-year-old season.
Adam Hyeronimus rides the first two winners at Canterbury, with Kakadu Sunset winning on debut! ðŸ'° @GaiWaterhouse1 @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/ohrLpLZx10
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 18, 2025
Two-year-old filly Ernaux failed to replicate her fellow big-money buy's performance in the Ranvet Maiden Handicap (1250m).
Ernaux ($2.70 favourite), a daughter of I Am Invincible out of Booker, sat outside the lead and briefly hit the front before fading late to finish third behind Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained duo Kakadu Sunset ($10) and Avenue Montaigne ($4.20).
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