Lowland Lifts Lucy to Unassailable Lead in NZB Filly of the Year Series

Another breathtaking performance in Sunday’s $150,000 Group Two Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Trentham has put Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) as far in front of her rivals on the NZB Filly of the Year Series points table as she has been on the racetrack.

Leica Lucy has recorded four consecutive wins by a combined margin of almost nine lengths. She has earned 28 points, while no other filly who is likely to contest the remaining two legs of the series has more than 8.

After bursting on to the scene with a victory by two and a half lengths in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham in December, Leica Lucy has been more and more impressive ever since with subsequent successes in the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) and Lowland Stakes. She is now rated a $1.50 favourite for the NZB Filly of the Year finale, the $1m Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 22.

Leica Lucy was on a different level to the 11 other fillies in Sunday’s Lowland Stakes field. She broke alertly from the starting gates and pressed forward in the early part of the race, securing a prime spot along the rail as the longshots Prestissimo (NZ) (Time Test) and Girl Talk (NZ) (Zed) moved across from wide gates and set a strong pace.

Jockey Craig Grylls had Leica Lucy travelling sweetly all the way, then popped off the fence at the home turn and pushed the button. There was no doubt about the result from that point on. Leica Lucy bounded to the front and drew clear, opening up a winning margin of three and a quarter lengths.

“I just had to dig her up a little bit to hold my spot, because they were going to rush across,” Grylls said. “She was a bit worked up before the race today, but as soon as she jumps out of the barriers, she comes straight back to you and switches off.

“It’s been a bit hard to get her into clear air in her last couple of races, but I was able to get off the fence nice and early this time. She’s improving all the time. This win was even better than her last one, and she did it without really being asked. I was pretty soft on her, but she just loves it and runs through the line.”

Leica Lucy was bred by Taranaki couple Heather and Peter Crofskey, who race her in partnership with prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir. The Robbie Patterson-trained filly has now had six starts for five wins, a placing and $439,260 in stakes.

“She’s not even screwed down yet,” Patterson said. “She’s an unbelievable horse. I’ve never had one like her.

“The Oaks has been the goal since the day she won her first start. I’m really looking forward to bringing her back here in three weeks’ time.

“After the Oaks, she’ll be heading over to Chris Waller’s stable in Australia. She could be a Queensland Oaks (Group One, 2200m) filly, and maybe even a Caulfield Cup (Group One, 2400m) horse a bit further down the track. She is the real deal.”

Sunday’s runner-up Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree) earned 4 points and lifted her series total to 6, while the strong-finishing third placegetter Dubai Gold (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) picked up her first 2 points of the series.

With the New Zealand Oaks and the Filly of the Year Series finish line in sight, the second-last leg of the series will be run at Ellerslie on Champions Day next Saturday – the $250,000 Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (2100m).