Fresh from being officially crowned Australia’s Champion First Season Sire of 2025/2026 with a record breaking $5.3million in overall first crop progeny earnings, Home Affairs was back in the winning groove at Wyong on Sunday with promising new winner Coco Affair.
Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, Coco Affair has always shown above average ability at the trials with a third placing on debut last March and then another third placing when resuming from a spell last month.
Champion jockey Zac Lloyd rode Coco Affair in those two runs in metro maidens and was keen to keep the ride at Wyong for a 1200m maiden.
She was a short priced favourite jumping from barrier one and after travelling smoothly on the fence behind the leaders was able to angle into clear ground and set sail for home.
Coco Affair coasted home to win by a couple of lengths with ears pricked.
A $260,000 Magic Millions purchase from Mill Park for O'Shea-Charlton Racing/James Bester Bloodstock, Coco Affair runs for a big ownership group including Neil Werrett in whose colours she runs.
“I've had the great pleasure of working a lot with her and we thought in her early trials she was a very good filly, but she's just struggled mentally her first two starts,” said Zac Lloyd.
“Today was much better and as you saw it was a dominant performance.
“I just think the more times she steps out, the easier it's going to become for her. She's doing everything bang on now and her manners were a lot better today. John and Tom have done a fantastic job with her and it’s always good to win for Neil Werrett.”
John O’Shea’s son Jordan was on track for the stable and was relieved to see Coco Affair deliver on promise.
“Her work at home has been top notch and it was good to see that reflect in today’s performance,” he said.
“We’ll see how she pulls up tomorrow and Tom and John will assess where they want to go next.”
Coco Affair is a half-sister to Group III placed Written Swoosh and is the fourth winner from six foals to race from Cocoa Doll, a winning half-sister by More Than Ready (USA) to Champion 2YO Filly Away Game and stakes-winner Modern Wonder.
Coco Affair is the first winner of the new season for Home Affairs, who has earned a big fee increase at Coolmore for this spring and stands at $176,000.
