The Robert Smerdon trained Lumosty put herself back into Crown Oaks contention with a soft win in the Group 2 $200,000 Drummond Golf Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley today.
Lumosty will now head to the Crown Oaks after winning the Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Lumosty failed at her last start when she finished eighth as the $2.80 favourite in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield two weeks ago but the addition of the blinkers today saw the Fastnet Rock filly turn that form around.
Sent out the short priced favourite again, Lumosty ($1.70) gave her backers no cause for concern with Nick Hall giving her an unimpeded run outside of the leader Tender before cruising away in the straight to score by two and a half lengths over second pick Tahni Dancer ($4.40) with Berimbau ($16) filling third spot.
Smerdon will now head towards the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 6 with Lumosty who is likely to miss the traditional Crown Oaks lead up, the Group 2 $300,000 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 1, and step straight up to the 2500m without another run.
“I don’t think three runs in twelve days would not be fair to her so if she went forward she would go straight there,” Smerdon said.
Smerdon is also in two minds if the blinkers will stay on for the Crown Oaks and will discuss with Hall how the filly handled them today.
“We will have a chat tomorrow when the dust settles and we will decide what might be the best next step for her,” Smerdon said.
“I thought she was bit keen early, I though he had to drag her off that other horse. And that was when I was wondering through the first part of the race if the blinkers were a plus or a minus.”
“To stretch her over a further journey we will have to think about if they are the right gear of whether we make another change.”
Today’s win was Lumosty’s second from six race starts and the $120,000 first prizemoney purse took her total earnings to $197,200 for her connections.
