Plans for Coolangatta to contest the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot hang in the balance

Coolangatta after winning the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington. Picture: Scott Barbour–Racing Photos via Getty Images

Coolangatta's trainer Ciaron Maher says the camp has some thinking to do after the Royal Ascot-bound mare's jumpout at Flemington on Monday.

Coolangatta finished third in a five-horse heat down the Flemington straight, which also featured fellow Royal Ascot contenders Cannonball and Artorius.

Maher described the 900m hitout as "plain".

???????????????????? Royal Ascot raiders @SnowdenRacing1 Cannonball (2nd), @cmaherracing Coolangatta (3rd) and @FreedmanRacing Artorius (5th) with a nice 900m straight pipe opener @FlemingtonVRC@RacenetTweets@superracingpic.twitter.com/DilnCPZOYh

— Gilbert Gardiner (@gilbertgardiner) May 28, 2023

Maher, who trains Coolangatta in partnership with David Eustace, said he would look at information such as the sprinter's heart rate and other physical data before deciding his next move.

He said he would also speak to Flemington track manager Liam O'Keeffe to find out the precise condition of the outside section of the course where the jumpout was held.

Maher said Coolangatta would leave for England on the night of June 7 with a gallop planned on the Ascot course proper in the days before her overseas debut in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes for which the three-year-old is $3.50 favourite in TAB fixed odds markets.

Re-watch the coverage of this morning's jump outs ???? https://t.co/oTJNEsC0HX

— Racing.com (@Racing) May 28, 2023

Connections of Cannonball were delighted with the speedsters jump out and it's full steam ahead for Royal Ascot according to managing part-owner James Harron.

"Peter and Paul have been very happy with Cannonball,'' Harron said.

"His coat is glowing and he's in a really good frame of mind.

"We have seen that in his trials in Sydney and also at Flemington on a rain-affected track which isn't to his liking.

"You can see in the horse physically how much he has developed. He's a stronger, more mature version of himself and it is nice to see that translating to his work.''

Peter Snowden was glowing in his praise of the colt.

"He trialled great,'' Snowden said. "You would be hard to please if you weren't happy with that trial.

"It is good to see him continue with the form he has been showing us this year.

"He is still a young horse, he's a three-year-old colt but he definitely has a lot of potential.

"I feel he is almost there now. He had a bit of a ‘puff' this morning and we won't do much more with him before he leaves for England.

"He won't do any more fast work but we might do some pacework on the weekend.

"When we get to England I'm hoping we can take him to Ascot to have a look at the track before his race.''