Tattersall’s Tiara winter option for Lumosty

Beaten Crown Oaks favourite Lumosty has recovered from a fetlock injury and trainer Robert Smerdon is hoping to have her ready to compete during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

Lumosty is nearing a return to the racetrack and a Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign is on the cards. Photo bySarah Ebbett.

Lumosty is nearing a return to the racetrack and a Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign is on the cards. Photo bySarah Ebbett.

The top Caulfield trained is yet to set a definite Winter program for Lumosty but has his eye on the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Club Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast on June 20 at the end of the Carnival.

The weight for age race for the fillies and mares is traditionally run at Eagle Farm but because the track is undergoing major reconstruction works, all the Winter Carnival races have been moved to other tracks with the Gold Coast picking up the last Group 1 race of the 2014 – 2015 racing season.

Lumosty rose to prominence during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival when she scored a resounding win in the Group 2 $200,000 Drummond Golf Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.

That win saw her sent out as the $4.40 favourite for the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington but after racing on the pace, faded slightly in the straight to be beaten four and three quarter lengths into sixth position behind Set Square.

Smerdon was then forced to give the Fastnet Rock filly an extended break following surgery on her fetlock to remove some bone chips but is happy to see her finally nearing a return to the racetrack.

“She had to spend time in the paddock to recuperate from that and it has put her behind,” Smerdon told the Herald Sun.

“Hopefully she’ll end up in Brisbane but we haven’t set a path yet but something like the Winter Stakes (Tattersall’s Club Tiara) might be a good objective too.”

Lumosty is progressing nicely and finished second to Srikandi in an 800m Cranbourne barrier trial on April 14.

The Ciaron Maher trained Srikandi is also heading to Queensland for the Winter Carnival and is set to resume in the Listed $150,000 Silk Stocking (1200m) at the Gold Coast on April 25.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.