Robert Smerdon is thrilled with the condition of Lumosty this time and is confident that regardless of results, the four-year-old will run to her best ability in Saturday’s featured 2015 Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington.
Lumosty is primed for a big performance in Saturday’s 2015 Darley Classic. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell
Lumosty has been a strong performer for Smerdon since first appearing on course in early 2014; posting five wins and a further four minors through only twelve competitive appearances.
Having displayed a distinct affinity with straight track racing, seen most recently via a dominant win in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) down the famous Flemington straight, Smerdon is confident the daughter of Fastnet Rock will run out of her skin in the 2015 Darley Clasisc, but is unsure how she will stack up against the talent-rich field that includes Chautauqua.
“I think she’s going as good as she’s ever gone,” Smerdon told Racing Ahead.
“She’s had three weeks from her first-up run and we were always aiming for this race. I was probably backing off to go to the Group 3 yesterday but Phil Sly (owner) was keen to give her an opportunity.
“It’s going to be a great race. Chautauqua is a star so you can never be confident in a race like that, but it is a horse race nonetheless and she goes in in really good shape.
“Whatever she produces tomorrow is as good as she’s got.”
Lumosty will leave from the outside gate in the Darley Classic; something that may play to her advantage owing to the integrity of the rain-affected track at Flemington on Saturday.
“It may play where they head to the outside so if that’s the case it could be something in our favour,” Smerdon said.
“By the time we get to there they would have run five races before that so it might even be further compounded.
”Straight track racing is unique to some horses and they would be career-best performances for her. They are very positive indicators.”
Lumosty returned to racing for success in the talent-rich All Victorian Sprint Series Heat (1100m) on May 9th; progressing to a disappointing tenth as favourite in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) following the Straight Six and ending her campaign third in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m).
Having returned this time for dead-heat success alongside Eclair Choice in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) on October 17th, Lumosty is currently available at 2015 Darley Classic odds of $10 for success with leading online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au.
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