Race Images Palmerston North
A proven Group-winning partnership might be celebrating further success on Saturday albeit at the other end of the scale.
Tauherenikau contender Lucy Liu is trained by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard for brothers John and Mark Carter and their sister Rachael.
Under their Jomara Bloodstock banner, the siblings also bred and race the gifted Humidor who started his career from the Otaki trainers’ stable.
He won four races, including the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic, and finished runner-up in last season’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic before he transferred to Darren Weir’s stable after the Carter siblings sold a 50 per cent stake in the gelding to clients of the record-breaking trainer.
In five subsequent outings, the son of Teofilo has won the Gr.1 Australian Cup and placed in the Gr.1 BMW Stakes.
Meanwhile, the Thorn Park mare Lucy Liu has made a bright start to her career with three wins from 13 starts and a record she is expected to improve upon at Tauherenikau.
She was placed in strong company at her most recent appearance and she will drop back to the Rating 75 grade in the Printcraft 1400.
“On her last run in open class she should be pretty hard to beat,” Benner said of Lucy Liu, who gave a pleasing account of herself most recently at Awapuni behind Darci Mac.
“Madan Singh will ride her again and claim three kilos. She’s not that big, but what she lacks in size she makes up for in heart – she’s got a big ticker.” – NZ Racing Desk.