Lucky Liberty to Atone in Christmas Stakes

Trainer Henry Dwyer is hopeful that five-year-old Lucky Liberty will return to the winner’s circle when he lines up for the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day.

Lucky Liberty will take his place in Monday's Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell

Lucky Liberty will take his place in Monday’s Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell

Lucky Liberty has been a standout amongst Dwyer’s continually-improving Caulfield stable and has posted and impressive five wins and a minor through only ten competitive appearances, leading into the Christmas Stakes.

Having finishing third in the Emirates Airline Handicap (1400m) before fading in the late stages of the Vobis Gold Bullion (1400m) to finish fifth last time out on December 3rd, Dwyer is hopeful that the Statue Of Liberty gelding will justify his decision to keep the horse in work for one last attempt at a black type win.

“He was a little bit stiff in that race at Pakenham, in that he was in the wrong part of the track, back on the inside,” Dwyer told Racing Victoria.

“We were going to tip him out and give him a good break, but I thought we might have one last roll of the dice in the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield – home track.

“He’s won over the 1200m at Caulfield before.

“Just freshened him right up again, we sent him straight to the paddock straight after [his last run], he had a week in the paddock and a couple of weeks on the water walker.

“He’ll arrive back today (Tuesday), have an easy gallop on Friday or Saturday and go into the race feeling good.”

Lucky Liberty stamped himself as a horse to follow when he debuted for three-consecutive race wins in late 2014, but was returned to the paddock after failing to fire in either of the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) or Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).

Resuming this time for fourth in the Pastry & Pieces BM84 (1005m) on September 11th, Lucky Liberty returned to winning form in the Dream Thoroughbreds BM70 (1200m) on October 1st; repeating the dose in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost BM78 (1200m) three weeks later, in what was his only other start prior to the Emirates Airline Handicap.

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Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.