Coolmore's magical run continues in Melbourne as Chris Waller produces a potential Royal Ascot raider

Coolmore's fabulous Del Mar Friday rolled on to a sensational Flemington Saturday after Switzerland gave the operation a third Group 1 triumph in the space of six hours, in the process establishing himself as a live Australian candidate for Royal Ascot.

Hot on the heels of Breeders' Cup victories for the Aidan O'Brien-trained Lake Victoria and Henri Matisse, Switzerland posted a dominant sprinting performance in a prize sponsored by his owners that is now regarded as one of the southern hemisphere's premier stallion-making contests.

The son of Snitzel delivered a sixth Coolmore Stud Stakes success to trainer Chris Waller, who also knows how to win at Royal Ascot, having masterminded Nature Strip's victory in the 2022 running of the King Charles III Stakes. Encouragingly for Ascot, Waller was quick to talk about the royal meeting after providing Coolmore with further cause to celebrate in the final build-up to City Of Troy's Breeders' Cup Classic mission.

"Royal Ascot would be the pinnacle for him," said Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier. "Chris knows what it takes to win at Royal Ascot and he has always held this horse in very high regard. 

"This caps off an amazing day for us. The team couldn't be going any better. We just need City Of Troy to win now, but that's the big-pressure race."

One race in which Coolmore will not be involved is the Lexus Melbourne Cup, whose ante-post favourite Jan Brueghel was scratched by Racing Victoria stewards on Tuesday morning.

"It's the highs and lows of racing," added Magnier. "On Tuesday we were very disappointed for all the partners who brought Jan Brueghel down here but they're all involved in this horse. 

"Some days things go your way, some days things don't and there are some days when things shouldn't go your way but they do. Racing is a great leveller."

One week on from Via Sistina's incredible performance in the Cox Plate, the sport continues to be rewarding for Waller and jockey James McDonald.

Looking forward to next year, Waller said: "The beauty of winning a Group 1 race with Switzerland is that it takes off a little bit of the pressure. We now have to maintain his value. Royal Ascot would be in our considerations. He is on his way to being something special."

Waller and McDonald completed a Group 1 double when Atishu mowed down Amelia's Jewel to win the TAB Empire Stakes, while Jamie Kah landed the Penfolds Victoria Derby on Goldrush Guru. Less positively, she also went home with a broken nose and a ten-meeting ban that rules her out of the Melbourne Cup Carnival's final two days.

Read more: 

Two more Melbourne Cup hopes out after failing controversial scans 

'We won't sacrifice safety for the sake of having a runner' - Racing Victoria responds to Jan Brueghel criticism 

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