Trainer John Sargent is confident that he has unearthed a potential VRC Oaks winner in Luvaluva, who stormed home to post a dominant win on debut at Goulburn on Monday.
John Sargent is confident that Luvaluva will furnish into a serious VRC Oaks filly in spring. Photo: Daniel Costello
Jumping from the gates well in the Wedding Event Specialist Maiden (1300m), jockey Jeff Penza allowed Luvaluva to stride forward and take a position on pace and was greeted with a big turn of foot late in the race as the filly extended to the line to post a four length win.
Having saddled several previous Oaks winners and placegetters since the turn of the century, Sargent told Racing Victoria that he has been excited by everything that the Mastercraftsman filly has done so far and believes that she is the real deal.
“Fillies like this only come around every couple of years and I think she is top class,” Sargent said.
“She is by the same sire as Thunder Lady but I think Luvaluva has a little more speed.
“I bought her at the Ready To Run sale in New Zealand and I’ve always felt she was pretty smart.
“It is not that she is a brilliant track worker, she is just very professional and I like the way she goes about things.”
Sargent revealed that the filly will likely have a brief freshen-up before mounting her Spring Carnival campaign, with early black type targets in Sydney also likely to figure.
“I’ll just take my time with her, she can spend a couple of weeks just ticking over on the water walker,” Sargent said.
“Horses who will be peaking during the Flemington Carnival are probably still a month away from returning to the races.
“We’ve got a lot of time up our sleeve so there is no need to rush her just yet.
“I like to keep them under my watch in Sydney for as long as possible. There are plenty of races up here for them and then we can travel to Melbourne when we have to.”
Luvaluva is currently considered a $26 chance in early 2017 Crown Oaks betting markets.
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