After a successful spring carnival last year, the Tony McEvoy-trained mare Cool Passion failed to land a blow in her first three starts this season but she was on her best behaviour with a hard-fought win in the Group III Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Always up with the leading group under Tommy Berry, the 7yo daughter of Not A Single Doubt defeated the game Princess Posh (Canford Cliffs) by a half-neck with Savatiano (Street Cry) a half-length back in third. (photo Grant Courtney).
Winner of the Group III Northwood Plume Stakes at Caulfield last October, Cool Passion advances her record to 10 wins, 5 seconds and 3 thirds from 25 starts with earnings of $539,875.
She is a high-quality mare," McEvoy said,
"She was bought by Jane Henning for John and Ann McDonald in Perth and I just want to thank them for their patience with this mare.
"We decided to give her another season before she goes to stud and her form this time has been OK but not up to her standard. They trusted me and gave the mare another chance and I am so pleased for them.
"She's a really good mare and you will probably see her in a race like the Swettenham in the autumn in Adelaide."
A half-sister to the Listed winner Havana Wind (Spinning World), Cool Passion is one of four winners out of the lightly raced Mister C mare Hiavanna a half-sister to Group III winner and Group I placed Headstrong (Archregent).
Hiavanna was pensioned in 2015.
