Lazzura capped off an exceptional spring preparation at Rosehill Gardens today, winning the Group 2 $500,000 Hot Danish Stakes over 1400 metres in a hard-fought contest.
Darren Beadman, representing trainer Chris Waller who was attending Flemington, conceded of Lazzura’s win: “It wasn’t a gimme.” The mare, a dominant odds-on favourite at $1.35, had to dig deep to overhaul the front-running Gerringong, though victory always seemed likely.
Moments later, Autumn Glow, also from the Waller stable, required a greater effort than anticipated to get past stablemate Lindermann in the Group 1 Champions Mile, but still managed a convincing win.
Autumn Glow retires to the spelling paddock with a perfect four wins from four starts this spring, three of which were at Group 1 level, confirming her status as the nation’s top racehorse. The Waller stable also achieved a trifecta in the Champions Mile, with Lindermann second and Buckaroo third.
Lazzura’s victory marked her third successive Group 2 win this spring from four starts, enhancing her growing reputation as one of the premier mares in training.
Guided by star jockey Tommy Berry, who rode Lazzura with supreme confidence, the favourite gradually wore down the valiant leader Gerringong ($6.50), winning by a half neck. Another Waller-trained mare, Surf’s Up ($17), finished a distant third, over two lengths behind.
Gerringong, skillfully rated in front by Nash Rawiller, set a rapid tempo, turning the race into a sharp sprint with the final 600 metres completed in a blistering 32.94 seconds, which only adds to the merit of Lazzura’s win.
Beadman’s trademark humour surfaced when it was suggested Lazzura may have drifted inwards towards Gerringong near the winning post.
“It was as wide as the Sydney Heads, turn it up!” Beadman quipped.
Lazzura will now head for a spell, having recorded notable victories in the Golden Pendant, The Invitation, and the Hot Danish Stakes.
“She has been in scintillating form,” Beadman stated. “She takes all the guess work out of it with her style of racing, she puts herself there.
“The 1400m is about as far as she wants, but she hit her sweet spot today.
“She had to do a bit of work last start when she won The Invitation but today it was pure grit and determination.
“For Ricky Senior and Junior and the Surace family, they put a lot of effort into their horses, what they are searching for and what they breed, so it is a great result.”
Beadman also praised jockey Tommy Berry’s ride.
“When the other horse came out of the race, the likely leader, Tommy was able to get there a lot softer than last start when he won The Invitation on her,” Beadman explained.
“He ‘curled his mo’, kept his cool, and 1400m is about as far as she wants.
“It was a tidy effort. She’s a Group 1 winner and meeting those horses at level weights, she was thrown in at the weight.
“It was a nice win and Surf’s Up getting stakes placed, picked up some black type, too.”
Berry commented that Lazzura adapted well from a moderate early pace to demonstrate her class in defeating a very game Gerringong. “We went across the line and Nash says ‘that was a good race because we had to fight the whole way down the straight’,” Berry recalled.
“The margin doesn’t reflect the performance but the time does [32.94s]. We quickened up really well from the 600m, I put in a good kick at the 400m and the 200m. And Nash just stuck with me from there, his is a very good filly on her day.
“Any horse with class can run up a quick 600m if you get an easy time she has done it well.
“I would have enjoyed a bit more give in the track than what is there today but she is a winner and that is what she does.”
Chris Munce, trainer of Gerringong, expressed his satisfaction with his mare’s performance. “She has had a good preparation,” Munce stated.
“After she won The Nivison first-up, maybe that run took a little bit out of her when she ran fourth in The Invitation even though she wasn’t beaten far.
“But she was back to her best today and ran very well. We will take her home and give her a break now, then set her for the autumn carnival.”
Punters seeking value can find excellent racing odds at Australian betting sites.
