Heather and Peter Crofskey are pinching themselves as they prepare to hop on a flight to Melbourne to watch their pride and joy Leica Lucy contest Saturday’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
“It is a dream come true,” Heather Crofskey said. “It (dreaming of racing a horse at Flemington) started many years ago, just before we started breeding, and it has happened.”
The Taranaki couple bred the daughter of Derryn and initially raced her with New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson, for whom she was a standout three-year-old last season.
Patterson had a high opinion of Leica Lucy early on, and a plan was hatched to head towards the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) following her debut win at New Plymouth last November.
“Robbie said very early on that she is the best horse he has trained,” Crofskey said. “Joe Doyle was the first jockey to ride her and he said ‘this one is a keeper’.
“After the first win, Robbie said she was an Oaks horse and that’s what we headed towards.”
Following a runner-up effort at Trentham in her next start, she went on to win the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) before prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir bought into the filly.
She carried Kheir’s familiar silks to victory in the Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m), Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) and fulfilled their initial goal when taking out the New Zealand Oaks in March.
Leica Lucy subsequently crossed the Tasman and joined leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller’s barn and ran fourth in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) before heading for a spell.
She returned to fill the same placing first-up in the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last month before finishing third in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), much to the Crofskeys delight.
“She has done well,” Crofskey said. “We were thrilled with her run in the Toorak.”
Lecia Lucy had a jump-out at Flemington last week to ready for the Empire Rose, where she will jump from barrier three with the addition of some gear.
“They have put blinkers on her, that will straighten her up a wee bit,” Crofskey said. “It was proven at a run along on Wednesday morning and she was a whole lot better. She has been tending to lug.”
The Crofskeys are heading over to Melbourne and they are excited to be trackside to watch their mare compete on one of the biggest days on Australia’s racing calendar.
“We are over the moon that she is racing on Derby Day and we are going over to see her,” Crofskey said.
“It is a bit unbelievable that we are there, but she is good enough to be there.
“She has got a good draw this time. She didn’t have one in her last start (10), she was out in no man’s land, but she has drawn barrier three and has got Mark Zahra on her, so she is going to get the best opportunity.”
While they can’t wait to reunite with their mare this weekend, they are also hoping to meet co-owner Kheir.
“We are in touch a great deal, but we haven’t met him yet,” Crofskey said. “Hopefully we get to meet him over there because he is a good guy.”
While excited to be trackside this weekend, the Crofskeys are trying to contain their expectations, but are hopeful of another Group One result.
“It’s a Group One with an awesome field. We are not expecting anything on Saturday, but just to be there is going to be out of this world,” Crofskey said.
“She is good and if we even get a place on Saturday, we will be absolutely thrilled. I know she will do her best.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
