Concord Connie set to fly in Empire Rose
Concord Connie (Contributer) may be lacking in race experience when she comes up against more seasoned mares in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
But her trainer Charlotte Littlefield is confident Concord Connie, who does not officially turn four until next month, has the ability to be a player in Saturday's Group One contest for fillies and mares at 1600m.
Concord Connie announced herself as a serious horse with two impressive Flemington wins during the late autumn, including one by six lengths, to have Littlefield and connections talking spring plans.
While beaten in her two runs this time, Littlefield could not be prouder of Concorde Connie and said the 1600m should be ideal on Saturday.
"She's still pretty young, she's still only three, so we didn't want to overtax her this campaign, but things haven't gone our way this preparation," Littlefield said.
"Mornington was never her right track, and we knew that, and we got a few hate mails after that, but there weren't any other options.
"She wasn't ready to travel interstate at that stage. It was a nice progression, although she didn't win there and at Caulfield, the pattern that day didn't play into our hands.
"I didn't want to go changing her pattern. We were hopeful she would be good enough to get over the top, but the sectionals she ran that day were incredible, and I don't think she could have done much more.
"She's in a really good space leading into her first Group 1 and hopefully it's a Group 1 we can conquer."
Littlefield has called on Craig Williams to replace Jett Stanly on Saturday, admitting it was a hard decision as Stanley had done nothing wrong.
"Craig and I have worked together closely for the last three years and he's probably the reason for my success," Littlefield said.
"He launched me and helped educate She's Bulletproof, Modown, Regal Vow, Stakes performed horses, and Big Swinger.
"He was always in my ear asking to get on Connie and when the opportunity arose in this Group One, it was the right decision to make in conjunction with the owners.
"We want to give the owners every chance of winning a Group One and we felt it was the right decision to make putting on Craig Williams.
"He rides so well and has such great experience at Group One level."
Littlefield has 32 horses in work and usually gets aboard one or two a morning.
Concord Connie is not one of them, although she rides the mare occasionally on quiet mornings or at the beach.
"I tend to do the quiet days on Connie as she's a bit much for me," Littlefield said.
"We have a French rider, Valentin Le Boeuf who does all her trackwork.
"He's a lovely rider and got off her this morning and gave me a call and said she was pigrooting, squealing and absolutely off her chops.
"She's ready to run the race of her life."
Concord Connie is a bright prospect for the High Chaparral stallion Contributer, who stood at Mapperley from 2016 until his death in 2024. Contributer is the sire of 145 winners from 237 runners, with 12 stakes winners headed by Campionessa and Lion’s Roar at Group One level.
Contributer has fashioned a strong record with his progeny in Australia, with 72 winners from 115 runners including stakes winners Lion’s Roar (NZ), Campionessa (NZ), Snow Patrol (NZ) and Tenzing (NZ).
