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...
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Unbeaten So You Think 3YO WA's New Excitement Machine
One month to the day since he first set foot on a racecourse, So You Think’s three year old son  Opportunistic remains undefeated from three starts, is a dual stakes winner with earnings of $200,250 to his name, and is WA's new rising star of the turf.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 29
Here is the full list of 53 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett Winning Whirl
It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
$3million Won Through Inglis Xtra Bonus
A staggering $3m has now been won as part of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series following today’s victory by the Cody Morgan-trained 3YO Considered at Dubbo.
Big Pedigrees Don’t Always Spell Black Type
The breeding of thoroughbreds is a very inexact science which is why we saw siblings to a pair of Group I winners fighting out the finish of a very pedestrian 1100m maiden at Ballarat on Sunday.
How Much for a Snitzel Colt from Winx?
The record price for a yearling by the late champion sire Snitzel stands at $2.8million, but that benchmark looks set to be smashed at Inglis Easter next year.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.