Lucky Lakota delivered a popular local victory in the Newcastle stand-alone opener, snatching the $160,000 Max Lees Classic (900m) with a fast-finishing effort.
Despite being prepared by the nation’s premier trainer, Ciaron Maher, Lucky Lakota was purchased and syndicated by Jamie Lovett and Luke Murrell from Newcastle’s Australian Bloodstock, and was partnered by local jockey Dylan Gibbons.
It was a finish that caught many, including Gibbons, off guard as Lucky Lakota managed to run down early leader Bronze Lion right at the post.
“I was trying to play the percentages and get on Regan’s back (Bayliss, rider of favourite Stellar Ami) and follow him out,” Gibbons said,. “But because my filly was having her first starts, she didn’t know how to quicken and push one out of the way.”
“When I did switch back (inside), I hoped it wasn’t too late. When I dove I thought we got beaten a head so I was pretty pleased to see our number in the frame.”
Lucky Lakota ($11) showed a strong finishing burst to catch Bronze Lion ($3.60), winning by a head. The favourite, Stellar Ami ($2.45), finished one-and-a-half lengths adrift in third.
Gibbons continued to heap praise on the debutant filly.
“She’s got an amazing action for a little filly, she covers ground so well,” Gibbons remarked. “I was really impressed with her attitude. She jumped well and travelled nicely.”
“She was a bit ‘new’ when I tried to come out but then I went back inside and she saw where the bunny (leader) was and she chased and chased hard.”
The $100,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase by the Australian Bloodstock team now has potential big-money race targets over the summer.
She is eligible for races such as the $400,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Royal Randwick on December 12, and the highly competitive $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) on February 6.
“We will see how she comes through this win and consider The Nursery,” said Maher’s Sydney racing manager Johann Gerard-Dubord. “There’s also the possibility we could put her away for the Inglis Millennium.”
Gerard-Dubord commented that Lucky Lakota has always displayed significant natural talent.
“From the moment Australian Bloodstock sent us the filly to train, she has shown us that natural ability,” he commented. “She trialled ‘sharp’ the other day and was very good today. She will learn plenty from that and will come on with the experience.”
“It was a very good effort. I didn’t think she got there but she was very strong to the line.”
Ciaron Maher made a strong start to the Newcastle stand-alone meeting, training a brace in the opening two races when Rock Empire led for the majority of the Trans Tasman Trophy (1850m) to secure victory.
Nash Rawiller controlled the race from the front on Rock Empire ($3.90), who defeated Stylebender ($26) by nearly three lengths, with Fortune ($13) a half-length behind in third.
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