Lucia Valentina is off to Melbourne and is still a chance to take a shot at the $3 million Caulfield Cup on Saturday week.
Trainer Kris Lees was disappointed with the mare’s Epsom Handicap performance at Randwick last Saturday but still paid the third acceptance fee for the Caulfield Cup for her and stablemate Protectionist on Tuesday.
However Lees has taken both horses out of the $3 million WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24, an indication of his Caulfield Cup plans for the pair.
Lucia Valentina finished eighth beaten four lengths behind the brilliant mare Winx in the Epsom, her second successive start over 1600m this spring.
“She travelled well, but just didn’t pick up in the straight,” Lees said. “The only thing I can put it down to is that she is now looking for further.
Lucia Valentina will be floated to Melbourne on Wednesday night with Lees to make a final decision on a Cup start after she gallops at Caulfield next Tuesday.
The New Zealand-owned mare, named last Friday evening as NSW Provincial Horse Of The Year, finished a cracking third to Admire Rakti in last year’s Caulfield Cup.
Both she and Protectionist are guaranteed Cup starts in the order of entry, and the latter is definitely heading there.
Lees has another option with Lucia Valentina if she doesn’t run in the Caulfield Cup and that will be to keep her for the $1m LKS Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 31.
Lees gave a “pass mark” to Protectionist for his 13th of 15 in last Sunday’s $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
“We rode him a bit more forward from an inside barrier, but he couldn’t sprint when they quickened and then got held up behind the pack in the straight,” he said.
“The Caulfield Cup will be his final lead-up to the Melbourne Cup.
“I definitely haven’t sold out on his Melbourne Cup prospects. That’s the race we have set him for this spring.”
Lees also has Brook Road in Melbourne and was rapt with the mare’s performance in last Friday night’s $450,000 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
She drew barrier 13, settled at the rear of the field and finished with purpose into seventh place behind the Brisbane warhorse Buffering, who clinched a record third Moir.
It was her first start since scoring over 1100m at Canterbury in July.
“Very pleased with her run,” Lees said. “Her sectionals were terrific, especially considering she had to be eased at the start from the outside draw.”
Brook Road’s next assignment will be an easier one as she will drop from G1 company to take on her own sex in the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday week.
