Lightning Lily powers home
LIGHTNING LILY staved off a last-gasp lunge by THORNHILL MISS to land yesterday’s fillies-only Titania Trophy by a half-length, clocking 1:06.3 for five and a half furlongs.
Partnered by Oneil Mullings, speedy LIGHTNING LILY chased 9-1 outsider ARTHUR’S DREAM, who got a flying start from the gate to carry the first two furlongs in a split of 23.0 seconds flat.
LIGHTNING LILY, the 6-5 favourite, moved up to test ARTHUR’S DREAM three-and-a-half furlongs out, ahead of highly fancied EARTH ANGEL running at odds of 7-2. However, ARTHUR’S DREAM responded by quickening under apprentice Dane Dawkins to carry the field into the final turn.
Meanwhile, THORNHILL MISS, who was unable to match the speedsters’ pace down the backstretch, came challenging five wide off the turn with Wesley Henry, hot on the heels of the leaders.
Always travelling well, LIGHTNING LILY renewed her challenge to tackle ARTHUR’S DREAM early in the straight and grabbed the lead a furlong out.
Ridden out by Mullings, LIGHTNING LILY quickened away nicely, but had to be driven out inside the last half-furlong to stave off THORNHILL MISS, who came with a strong run on the outside, but too late to catch Feanny’s runner.
EXPERIENCED HORSES
ARTHUR’S DREAM stayed on for third ahead of EARTH ANGEL, both running for the second time against experienced horses.
Two whopping outsiders, VERY CLASSIC at 15-1 in the opening event and 14-1 shocker, SMASH AMUSEMENT, smashed all Sunrise Pick-6 bets, sending a carryover of $1,751,870.25 to Tuesday’s Labour Day meet, which has the 1820-metre Mark My Word Trophy for open allowance horses and the 1200-metre Labour Day Trophy as co-features.
Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta has five runners in the Mark My Word Trophy, including PERFECT NEIGHBOUR, who returns to the route circuit for the first time since finishing fourth in last November’s Superstakes.