Lucia Valentina
Darryl Sherer
Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) has produced a last-to-first finish to win the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
Going into Sydney's richest race on an abbreviated autumn campaign, Lucia Valentina was having only her second start since running in the Hong Kong Cup in December.
In what is a career-best run, Lucia Valentina ($8) overcame difficulties at the top of the straight to beat the favourite The United States with and Happy Clapper taking the minor placing.
It gave jockey Damien Oliver his third win for the meeting on Saturday and his second for Lucia Valentina's trainer Kris Lees.
Oliver said he had to ride his luck from the top of the straight after the mare was outpaced and settled at the tail of the field.
"She couldn't go with them at all early," Oliver said.
"But if you leave her alone she will reward you late."
Oliver took his chances to make his run between horses but he admitted the task might have been beyond Lucia Valentina.
"At the furlong (200 metres) (the race) was all over," he said.
"I went from the outhouse to the penthouse from the 400 (metres) to the 200 (metres)."
Happy Clapper had to be vetted after the Doncaster Mile runner-up became agitated in the barrier stalls.
Lucia Valentina banked $2.4 million for her victory, taking her career earnings to more than $6.5 million from seven wins in 27 starts.
Her win was also part of the biggest day for the mare's New Zealand owner Lib Petagna who also collected the trophy for the Australian Oaks with Sofia Rosa.
Stephen Marsh trains Sophia Rosa and was the former trainer of Lucia Valentina who was sent to Lees to further her career in Australia.
Petagna's bloodstock agent Bruce Perry paid $60,000 for Lucia Valentina from the NZB draft of Blandford Lodge and $5000 more for Sofia Rosa from the draft of Westbury Stud.
"We've had a Group Two and Group One on the same day before but never two Group Ones," Perry said.
"It's a big thrill."
The win was even sweeter for Lees as he watched as mare ran into dead ends at the 400m.
"She looked in a lot of trouble on the turn. She dipped and went down on her nose.
"They've been talking about sending her to stud so I might attack them right now and see if I can go another year."
-AAP
Going into Sydney's richest race on an abbreviated autumn campaign, Lucia Valentina was having only her second start since running in the Hong Kong Cup in December.
In what is a career-best run, Lucia Valentina ($8) overcame difficulties at the top of the straight to beat the favourite The United States with and Happy Clapper taking the minor placing.
It gave jockey Damien Oliver his third win for the meeting on Saturday and his second for Lucia Valentina's trainer Kris Lees.
Oliver said he had to ride his luck from the top of the straight after the mare was outpaced and settled at the tail of the field.
"She couldn't go with them at all early," Oliver said.
"But if you leave her alone she will reward you late."
Oliver took his chances to make his run between horses but he admitted the task might have been beyond Lucia Valentina.
"At the furlong (200 metres) (the race) was all over," he said.
"I went from the outhouse to the penthouse from the 400 (metres) to the 200 (metres)."
Happy Clapper had to be vetted after the Doncaster Mile runner-up became agitated in the barrier stalls.
Lucia Valentina banked $2.4 million for her victory, taking her career earnings to more than $6.5 million from seven wins in 27 starts.
Her win was also part of the biggest day for the mare's New Zealand owner Lib Petagna who also collected the trophy for the Australian Oaks with Sofia Rosa.
Stephen Marsh trains Sophia Rosa and was the former trainer of Lucia Valentina who was sent to Lees to further her career in Australia.
Petagna's bloodstock agent Bruce Perry paid $60,000 for Lucia Valentina from the NZB draft of Blandford Lodge and $5000 more for Sofia Rosa from the draft of Westbury Stud.
"We've had a Group Two and Group One on the same day before but never two Group Ones," Perry said.
"It's a big thrill."
The win was even sweeter for Lees as he watched as mare ran into dead ends at the 400m.
"She looked in a lot of trouble on the turn. She dipped and went down on her nose.
"They've been talking about sending her to stud so I might attack them right now and see if I can go another year."
-AAP