Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie will set Love Spy for a Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign after the filly was untroubled to win the $125,000 Coastline BMW 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday.
Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie will map out a Brisbane Winter Carnival program for Sunshine Coast winner Love Spy. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Jockey Jim Byrne allowed Love Spy to slide to the front from barrier nine in the sixteen horse field and was only briefly headed mid race by Rare Occurrence before forging away in the straight to record an impressive one and a half lengths win.
The Love Conquers All filly was sent out at the surprising good odds of $6.50 following her debut five and a quarter lengths win in a 1050m two year old Plate at Toowoomba on December 31.
Currie said that even though he had a high opinion of Love Spy, she did surprise him a bit with her dominant win and he will now map out a Winter Carnival program for the bay filly.
“We have always had a big opinion of her,” Currie said.
‘’I always thought if she could win today (Saturday), we would look at setting her for the Winter Carnival. She makes it pretty easy for us, because she just jumps out and puts herself in the race.”
“But sometimes you don’t really know how good they are yourself.”
“She had been winning jump outs and trials at home and been very impressive, but a lot of horses do that and a lot of two-year-old horses do that.”
Currie went to the Sunshine Coast with some reservations following Love Spy’s win against moderate company on her home track with some rating experts agreeing with him.
“A few people said she didn’t beat much at Toowoomba, which is fair enough, but you can only beat what is in front of you,” Currie said.
“We came here today (Saturday) and a lot of people were spruiking a few other horses but she raced on pace and she was tough and too strong.”
“It was her first time out of Toowoomba but she got off the truck and didn’t sweat or move a muscle.”
“When she walked around the parade you would have thought she was an old horse (with) hundred starts.”
Local filly Royal Tithe was sent out the $3.80 favourite for the Coastline BMW 2yo Classic and raced just behind the speed for Ryan Wiggins and maintained her spot in the straight to finish third.
Fourth placegetter Rare Occurrence ($4.80), who was backing up after running eleventh to Capitalist in the $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast the previous week, put the pressure on Love Spy in the middle stages but faded slightly in the run home to finish two lengths behind the winner.
