All systems go for Lizzie L'amour in Stocks Stakes

Brad Waters - Thursday September 28

Lizzie L'amour stunned co-trainer Murray Baker when she pulled up with a problem after her first-up flop but the Kiwi horseman has the mare primed for a sharp improvement at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Advertisement
Murray Baker (above) and co-trainer Andrew Forsman have Lizzie L'amour ready to go at Moonee Valley. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Lizzie L'amour was a Group I winner at her last New Zealand run in March but was beaten a long way from home when finishing more than 27 lengths from the winner at her Australian debut in the Group II Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes on September 9.

Jockey Damien Oliver thought there was an issue with Lizzie L'amour before vets confirmed the five-year-old had pulled up with atrial fibrillation, which surprised Baker.

"I can't remember the last horse I've had that had it from a veterinary point of view where they have examined one," Baker, who trains Lizzie L'amour in partnership with Andrew Forsman, said.

"There was two in that race (with atrial fibrillation) and that's very unusual. There was no reason, it just happened."

Lizzie L'amour had to complete a jumpout at Flemington and pass an ECG test before she was cleared to resume racing but Baker said the five-year-old has worked well since her Valley run.

Lizzie L'amour will return to Moonee Valley to compete in mares' grade in the Group II Stocks Stakes (1600m) and Baker is confident of an improved showing.

"They say it doesn't occur again in 90 percent of cases but who knows?" Baker said.

"I've galloped her and worked her as normal. She's had no favours because she's a Zabeel and they are as tough as teeth.

"She has been perfect since."

Hugh Bowman, who won the Victoria Derby on Lion Tamer for Baker in 2010, will take over from the suspended Oliver aboard Lizzie L'amour at Moonee Valley.

Lizzie L'amour has firmed from $9 to $8 in Sportsbet's Stocks Stakes market in which Group I winner I Am A Star has shortened into $3.10 favouritism ahead of Hell Or Highwater, who has drifted from $3.50 to $4.50.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.