‘Dizzie’ Lizzie back to her best
THE country’s leading trainers have continued their recent domination of a Te Rapa Group Two feature with this year’s winner completing a stunning stakes double on the Hamilton course.
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have enjoyed a stellar run in the Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) with past successes with Lady Kipling (2011), Diademe (2013), Sports Illustrated (2014) and last season with Coldplay.
It was the turn on Saturday of Lizzie L’Amour, who led home a stable trifecta 12 months to the day since she claimed top honours in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m).
The Zabeel mare was making her first appearance since a disappointing spring campaign in Melbourne where she failed to flatter in four appearances.
‘‘In Australia she didn’t exhibit this sort of form and I don’t know why – she’s not called Dizzy Lizzie for nothing,’’ Baker said. ‘‘She had been working well though.’’
Lizzie L’Amour sat outside the leader Stolen Dance and she finished bravely under rider Matthew Cameron.
‘‘She’s obviously a very good mare when she’s right and it was a good ride from Matt, he got his tactics right,’’ Baker said.
The favourite Love Affair did well to come from the back of the field, on a day when there was a bias toward on pace runners, to finish runner-up in her first crack at weight-for-age. Stolen Dance boxed on strongly for third.
‘‘It’s very satisfying and a big surprise, I thought Love Affair would be very hard to beat,’’ Baker said. ‘‘She’s a very good horse and her turn will come.’’
Lizzie L’Amour will now defend her crown in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie where she will renew her rivalry with Stolen Dance.
Plans for Love Affair have yet to be confirmed.
❚ Patrick Moloney has proved himself to be the perfect pinchhitter.
The stable jockey for Mike Moroney’s Flemington operation has twice answered the call from the trans-Tasman trainer to substitute in New Zealand for a suspended Jake Bayliss and both times has filled in admirably.
‘‘I’m more than happy to take every opportunity I get to come over here and ride some nice horses,’’ he said.
Moloney, whose maiden visit featured victory aboard On The Rocks in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m), teamed up with the flying youngster She’s A Thief at Te Rapa on Saturday for an effortless win.
‘‘She’s quite an impressive filly and I was blown away with her professionalism,’’ he said. ‘‘I was really impressed with what she did today.’’
She’s a Thief was coasting in front to the turn and glided clear in the straight with Moloney afforded the luxury of a couple of looks over his shoulder in the closing 300m.
‘‘She’s lived up to all expectations,’’ he said. ‘‘She can only continue to improve.’’
She’s A Thief, who had won in similar fashion on debut last month, will now head to the Eclipse Stakes (1200m) on January 1 at Ellerslie before returning for the Karaka Million (1200m) later in the month.
‘‘We were going to go straight to Auckland on New Year’s Day but she was getting above herself, she’s really thriving at the moment,’’ said Moroney’s Matamata training partner Pam Gerard.
‘‘She’s an angel with a great attitude, she’s so easy to deal with.’’
❚ TALENTED central districts galloper Five To Midnight is on target for a second crack at a Group One staying feature.
He finished a meritorious fifth in last season’s Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) and his preparation for the March event was boosted at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Runner-up in his previous start in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m), Five To Midnight had no trouble going one better in the Waikato Cup under a faultless ride from Leith Innes.
‘‘The horse had done really well since Pukekohe, I couldn’t have been happier with him, and I would have been disappointed if he wasn’t right in this,’’ trainer Lisa Latta said.