Robbie Patterson couldn’t have wished for a smoother preparation with Leica Lucy into Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham where the filly will make her Kiwi swansong as hot favourite in the $1 million feature.
Leica Lucy made light work of her rivals on debut back in November, and from that point forward, she has been dominant.
Leica Lucy will contest Saturday's $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Along the way, the daughter of Derryn has won the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), and Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) and her three-length demolition in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m).
Patterson shared plenty of admiration for his young star, who secured her status as NZB Filly of the Year with an unassailable lead over sprinter Alabama Lass.
“She’s leap-frogged from a maiden race, into a three-year-old race and she’s been in Group races ever since,” he said. “She’s just taken every step in her stride, it’s been unbelievable really and for nothing to go wrong.
“We knew we had a good horse, but you don’t expect everything to go right all the time and it just has. It’s been an incredible climb, you don’t usually get that with a horse but she’s just one out of the box.
“I’m just counting down for the next four days to the race really.”
Since her Lowland romp, it has been business as usual for Leica Lucy back in New Plymouth, as she attempts to become Patterson’s second Oaks winner after Legs’ triumph in 2006, while training in partnership with Kevin Gray.
“We’ve done pretty much the same thing as she has done between all of her races, I’ve just given her an extra gallop than she did leading into the Lowland,” Patterson said.
“She had a good hit-out this morning but she’s come off the track bouncing, she’s a very happy horse and I couldn’t be happier with her.”
Starting at $1.40, $1.30 and $1.10 in her last three appearances, the pressure and expectation to win has been a constant for Patterson, a factor he won’t miss when Leica Lucy heads to Chris Waller’s stable in Sydney after the Oaks.
“It will take the pressure off me I will admit, when you’ve got a $1.30 shot going around in a Group One,” he said.
“I am looking forward to seeing her go to Australia to tell the truth, it’s where she belongs and I can’t be there all the time with just one horse. It’s fantastic for the owners Pete and Heather Crofskey here in New Zealand, it’s great for them to have a good horse racing over there.
“We’ve got a great association with Ozzie Kheir (part-owner) as well now, he’s been fantastic to deal with and if she can go there and do well, you never know, he may want another one off us another time.”
Earlier on Oaks Day, Patterson will also have a representative in the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) in Our Jumala.
The Zed mare won comfortably over the mile distance at New Plymouth earlier this month, setting her up well for a shot at further black-type after placing in last year’s Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m).
“She’s a last-start winner and has thrived since then, she worked super this morning,” Patterson said.
“Any easing in the track would really help her, but I’m not sure we’ll be getting that.”
The $65,000 contest for maidens as at midnight on December 2 is a perfect fit for One Bold Gigolo, after winning his last-two starts over 1400m in convincing style.
“He’s going to go to the special maiden but he’s won his last two, he’s a very progressive horse and will be a definite chance with a nice barrier,” Patterson said.
Earlier in the week, the weather will play a role at Waverley’s Wednesday meeting, with Marketa and Shameless Boy engaged for the stable.
Marketa was game in defeat behind stablemate Hot Mama at New Plymouth last-start, which was only her second appearance to the races. The daughter of Eminent will contest the Treadwell Gordon (1400m), while two-time winner Shameless Boy takes his place in the Nutrinza – Animal Nutrition (1400m).
“We just had a slight niggle with Marketa that set us back a little bit after her last start, it’ll be interesting to see what the track is like tomorrow because there is a bit of rain around,” Patterson said.
“A bit of easing in the ground may help her, but it will be a wait and see really with that month between races.
“Shameless Boy would appreciate a wet track, if he can get that, he’ll be pretty competitive I’d say.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
