Sheza Lily benefits from firmer track
JOCKEY Ryan Plumb has begun a nine-day suspension but not before riding Sheza Lily to her best win yet.
Sheza Lily, the $4.80 second favourite, thrived on firm ground to produce the turn of foot that trainer Les Kelly and Plumb knew she had on her way to winning the Trackside Tapas Class 1 Plate (1800m) at the Gold Coast yesterday.
The three-year-old filly sat off the pace before taking full advantage of marginal space on the inside to win by four lengths from the $3.70 favourite Bronzegate.
Plumb said Sheza Lily had shown form in trackwork and just needed the right conditions to produce her best after previously battling bad barriers and heavy tracks.
“She is going really well. She is a really nice filly,” Plumb said.
“Being on top of the ground really helps her and not being on the heavy track like she has been lately.
“She has won on the heavy but we always thought on top of the ground she would be a better horse.
“She showed that when she let down. She had that turn of foot and won the race there and then.
“Her work the last three months has been excellent every single time. The horse is just really flying.”
It was Plumb’s last day in the saddle before beginning a suspension for careless riding incurred at the Gold Coast on June 17.
Plumb can resume riding again on July 4.
Sheza Lily has now won two from six starts since joining Kelly’s stables on the Gold Coast at the start of the year.
The filly is shaping as a promising stayer who Plumb said was likely to go further than 1800m in her next start.
But Plumb will likely not be on Sheza Lily if Kelly sends her to the city to race up a grade, as the hoop expects, because the Gold Coast jockey wouldn’t be able to ride at the 54kg she will receive.
While the punters were on the mark with the top two fancies filling the quinella in Sheza Lily’s race, they were belted in the previous event.
The Andrew Cowelltrained Godwood won the Benchmark 70 Handicap (2400m) at $51, from $21 chance Leprechaun Lad and $31 shot Qabla.
The trifecta on the race paid $11,745.60 with UBET.
Godwood, ridden by Micheal Hellyer, settled back in the field but hauled in Leprechaun Lad right on the line to claim his fourth win in 47 starts. Lyrids, the $3.20 favourite, finished fifth.