Two Thousand Dollar Filly a Group Winner on Derby Day

Mark Smith - Saturday November 4

In a head-bobbing finish the 5yo Turffontein mare Lyuba earned a first black-type success in Saturday's $200,000 Group III Skip Sprint (1100m) at Flemington.

The Darren Weir-trained filly has been a model of consistency without winning of late.

She has been runner-up six times in nine starts since scoring back to back wins at Flemington and Moonee Valley.

One of the first to begin for Damian Lane, Lyabu settled midfield as Sheidel led the field down the centre of the track.

Advertisement

As Sheidel began to weaken, the challenges came thick and fast.

Lyuba gradually got the better of a stubborn Concealer but was all out to hold the challenge of the fast-finishing Savanna Amour by a short-half-head. Concealer was the same distance back in third just ahead of the Sydneysider Nieta. (photo Grant Courtney)


"What a ride she's taken the connections on," Lane said

"A $2,000 horse winning on Derby day at Flemington.

"It's been a great thrill for all involved and it's a privilege for me to be on her back today."

Lyuba advances her record to 6 wins and 7 seconds from 17 starts with earnings of $437,900.

"She's very honest, a couple o9f starts ago she ran poorly at Caulfield and she pulled up with a bit of a problem with her back leg.

"We got that sorted out and her last couple of runs have been terrific.

"She didn't cost a lot of money. The best part about buying these horses for not a lot of money is that you can put in a couple of mates and it doesn't cost a lot for them to go in it. If they are no good, which most of them are, they don't lose a lot of money.

"I was at the sales poking around out there at the back and she walked passed and caught my eye and didn't take much notice of the pedigree.

"This is one of the better stories."

Consigned by Swettenham Stud to the 2014 Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling sale, Lyuba was knocked down to Forest Lodge Racing for $2,000.

She is the first and only foal of the General Nediym mare Dancing With Amy who placed in three of her 11 race starts without breaking her maiden.

A half-sister to two winners, Dancing With Amy died in November 2013.

Lyuba becomes the third stakes winner for Blue Gum Farm's Turffontein who stands at a fee of $7,700 in 2017.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
First Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.