Aussie Owner Buys into NZ Oaks Favourite

Media Release - Monday February 3

Prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir is looking to repeat history in this weekend’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa, after buying into the $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) favourite Leica Lucy on Monday.

Last year Kheir purchased into Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Molly Bloom in the week of the Fillies’ Classic, and she gave him a near instant return on his investment when winning the Te Rapa feature.

Leica Lucy will line-up in Saturday's Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa for new co-owner Ozzie Kheir.   Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Kheir is hoping he can do the same with Leica Lucy on Saturday, having struck a deal with her owners, Heather and Peter Crofskey, who will remain in the ownership of their homebred.

The three-year-old daughter of Derryn has been a standout for the couple, winning three of her four starts for trainer Robbie Patterson, including the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), both at Trentham.

The Upper Hutt venue will be the home of her final two starts for the Taranaki horseman next month before she heads across the Tasman to join Molly Bloom at Chris Waller’s Sydney barn.

“Ozzie Kheir has joined up with the Crofskeys. I have got her for her next three runs, and she will be transferred to Chris Waller,” Patterson said.

“It is good that Ozzie has got the confidence in me to train her. She is a fantastic filly, and she will be good wherever she ends up.”

Patterson has been rapt with Leica Lucy’s career trajectory to date and believes the best has yet to be seen from her, with distance set to be her biggest ally.

“She is only going to get better too. The further she steps up, the better she should get,” he said.

“I am really excited about Saturday at Te Rapa and then the Lowland and Oaks. We will just take one race at a time, but there is a lot to look forward to.”

The New Zealand Oaks’ $1 million purse has been a big lure for Leica Lucy to remain in New Zealand, and Patterson foresees it being an ongoing trend with New Zealand’s burgeoning prizemoney.

Advertisement

“It (Oaks prizemoney) is a great carrot, that is obviously why she stayed here instead of going straight to Aussie,” he said. “New Zealand racing is on the up and the Australians are noticing and are starting to take advantage of it.”

Leica Lucy could be joined on the float trip north to Te Rapa this weekend by stablemate One Bold Cat, however, Patterson said his presence will be weather dependent and is looking unlikely at this stage with the fine weather forecast.

“He is in the Herbie (Gr.1, 2000m), but if the track gets too firm for him, he won’t be going,” Patterson said. “It will be dictated by the weather, but it looks fine at the moment.

“There are some pretty classy horses there. It is probably one of the toughest Group Ones I have ever seen in New Zealand.”

Meanwhile, Patterson’s Group One winner Puntura has been retired.

Bred and raced by Taranaki couple Carole and John Lynskey, Puntura won 11 of his 41 starts, including last year’s Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), which earned him an invitation to compete in the A$3.75 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield.

His other notable victories included the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) and Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).

He failed to find form this season, with his fourth placing in the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) being the highlight of his preparation. He sustained a slight tendon strain following his run in last month’s Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), which brought down the curtain on a pleasing career.

“He has done a great job,” Patterson said. “He didn’t come up as well as he did last year. He deserves a good retirement. He has gone to our vet, Rebecca McKenzie, and she will look after him well.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
All the Way Anders Winner for Myracehorse
The Myracehorse colours struck again at Doomben on Wednesday carried by progressive Anders filly Diversity, who broke her maiden in good style.
Yulong Purchase into Enriched - Inglis October (Early) Sale
Three individual shares in the G2-winning entire Enriched sold for a combined $440,000 in a highly successful Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale today.
Two Highest Priced Yearlings in World This Year Highlight Tattersalls October Day 1
The opening day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw two colts realise 3,700,000 guineas and 3,600,000 guineas, both exceeding the highest price for a yearling sold anywhere in the world in 2025, and five seven-figure lots.
NZ Oaks Favourite Leica Lucy Ready for her Kiwi Finale
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.
Wootton Bassett 3YO Impresses at Avondale
Promising three-year-old Kygo Star overcame a wide journey to come out on top in a tight finish in the Allspark Electrical Maiden 3YO (1400m) at Avondale on Wednesday.
Written Tycoon’s Pictor Leads Home Waller Trifecta
Having made his debut back in June with a narrow second behind fellow Yulong owned Written Tycoon colt Grand Prairie, who three starts later won the Group 3 ATC Up And Coming Stakes, Chris Waller’s progressive Pictor appreciated the step to 1400m to score at just his third career start.
Leica Lucy Survives Scare in Fillies’ Classic
Rising star Leica Lucy had to live right up to her fast-growing reputation at Te Rapa on Saturday, getting herself out of deep trouble in the straight and winning the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m).
Sejardan Fits 2YO Speed Profile
There were three feature juvenile contests held at Flemington and Randwick last weekend and as usually is the case with such races, they were won by horses whose pedigrees suggested that good early form was on the cards.
G1 King Charles Next for Pier
Kiwi Group One winner Pier will not feature in this year’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), but he will still have the opportunity to run for a A$5 million stake back in Sydney.
Les Young Scholarship sets Miriam on track for industry leadership
Miriam Drinnan’s vision for a big, bold career in the Thoroughbred industry has just been turbo-charged thanks to the Les Young Scholarship, an award supported by the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program.