Lizzie back on track

NEW Zealand trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman are hopeful they can get Lizzie L’Amour’s spring campaign back on track in today’s Geelong Cup.

The Melbourne Cup-nominated stayer has been luckless in all three of her Australian starts this preparation, throwing her major spring goals into jeopardy.

With just 51.5kg and at number 30 in the Melbourne Cup order of entry, Lizzie L’Amour would need to win the $300,000 Group 3 race impressively to push her way up the list.

“It is a chance to get her spring back on track,” Forsman said. “I know the girls have been very happy with her. She’s over there and it’s worth pushing on.

“She would have to be very impressive and win on Wednesday (to go to the Melbourne Cup).”

The talented five-year-old was an impressive winner in the Group 1 Bonecrusher (2000m) in New Zealand earlier this year, earning her ticket to Australia for all the spring majors.

But atrial fibrillation firstup at Moonee Valley, followed by no luck in running in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes had connections rethinking her plans.

And then in the Cranbourne Cup she got way too far back from the barrier and never really had a winning chance in a race dominated by on-pace gallopers.

Baker and Forsman then decided against running Lizzie L’Amour in the Caulfield Cup in favour of Geelong.

Mark Zahra has been booked to ride from barrier nine.

“We are very happy with her. It’s obviously an awkward draw, but she seems on target,” he said.

“We have been happy with her all the way through, we just need a bit of luck. It’s been one disaster after another, so hopefully she gets her chance.

“(At Cranbourne) we were hesitant to take her there. Obviously it’s a tight track and she just got back and as soon as she tried to make her run she was shuffled off the track.”

Zahra hasn’t ridden Lizzie L’Amour in a race, but has sat on her back in the lead up to today’s race.

“She’s not an overly complicated horse to ride, so I’m sure he will be fine,” Forsman said.