Classy mare Lucia Valentina has completed an exceptional run at Royal Randwick this afternoon, displaying an incredible turn of foot to win the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) by more than a length.

Lucia Valentina has displayed an incredible turn of foot to win the Group 2 Tramway Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart

Jumping from the gates well, the Savabeel mare settled well within the pack off the pace of early leaders Tiger Tees, Pheidon and Honorius who set a noticeably quick tempo over the back straight and rounding the bend.

Finding the final straight wide and with plenty of work to do, Lucia Valentina quickly spooled up and exploded from the main pack, charging down to outside to swallow Tiger Tees 100m from the post and finding the line comfortably clear of the in-from sprinter; Toydini running hard for third.

Trainer Kris Lees was understandably thrilled with Lucia Valentina’s performance in the 2014 Tramway Handicap and confirmed one of the major October races will figure as the ultimate goal through the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, decided by prior results at Group 1 level.

“Certainly good to see her back, when we scratched her the other day I was worried about the heavy track first-up but we had to go to the races now and it was a really good effort,” Lees said immediately after the Tramway Stakes.

“She looked like she got in a bit of trouble about the 500m but she balanced up nicely and Kerrin (McEvoy) let her find her feet and she was very strong through the line.

“She’s nominated for all the big races; it was a heavy track today so we’ll just see where she ends up.

“She’ll probably go to the George Main (Group 1, 1600m) in two weeks and if she goes well enough in that you’d probably go to a Turnbull Stakes (Group 1, 2000m) then decide whether a Caulfield Cup or a Cox Plate.”

Securing a fourth race win in what was her tenth competitive start in the 2014 Tramway Stakes, Lucia Valentina has continued an exception run of form this year which delivered a strong win in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and credible third in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) through the Autumn Carnival.

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2014 Tramway Stakes Results