3 minute read

Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary is looking ahead to bigger things in the spring and summer for his talented filly Lucy Rose who will have the final run of her two-year-old season when she resumes at Moruya on Monday.

Winner of two of her first three starts - including the $100,000 Wellington Boot (1100m) at her last appearance on March 12 - Lucy Rose resumes in the Adelaide Hotel Good Sports 2YO Hcp (1010m).

Monday's race will be the only run for the daughter of I Am Invincible this campaign as Cleary looks forward to seeing her develop further during her three-year-old season.

"She's just going to have this one run then she'll go straight to the paddock and we'll then look forward to the spring with her," said Cleary.

"We've been very patient with her so far because I just didn't want to screw her down too hard as a two-year-old. I'm thinking long-term with her. She's done a great job so far and is a very promising filly who should go on as a three-year-old.

"The plan is to bring her back in the spring and I'm looking at a 1000m race for fillies at Flemington on Oaks Day (November 9) to start her off. She'll probably go down a week or two before that race and have a jumpout down the straight at Flemington.

"She's a Magic Millions filly so the Gold Coast carnival in January is also a possibility and I think she'll extend out to 1400m so the Magic Millions Guineas could be her target."

Cleary paid $50,000 for Lucy Rose at the 2016 Magic Millions Sale and she has already returned her connections $92,000 in prizemoney. Out of Lucys Loot (by Star Of The Magi), Lucy Rose is a half-sister to the former top Singapore sprinteing mare Royal Smile.

"She went through the sale ring on the Sunday session at the Magic Millions and I was pleasantly surprised to get her for only $50,000," said Cleary.

Lucy Rose had just the one start in her initial campaign, winning on debut over 1000m at Canberra on a soft5 on November 25.

She then resumed on February 19, finishing sixth in a strong race at Canberra behind Gunnison, a subsequent Group Two winner in the Todman Slipper Trial at Rosehill.

Lucy Rose came out at her next start to land the $100,000 Wellington Boot (1100m) on March 12, crossing from her outside gate under Mathew Cahill to lead all the way.

Cahill continues that association on Monday when the filly carries the topweight of 59.5kg.

"The 59.5kg is a slight concern, but she's been working well with Catch The Culprit for her return and this race should be another a confidence-booster for her," said Cleary.

Cleary will also have Catch The Culprit (race one), outsider Sheboygan (race four) and The Nickster (race five) lining up at Moruya.

He rates The Nickster the best winning chance of that trio when she tackles the Moorings Resort Benchmark 65 Hcp (1425m).

"She'll go forward this time - she just doesn't chase that well - and the step up to the seven furlongs (1425m) will really suit her," said Cleary.

"This looks the perfect race for her to get her confidence back and get her back in the winner's list."

The Nickster, coming off a last-start sixth to Soft Top over 1200m at the Gold Coast on June 25 when she settled back in the field, has two wins and a second from five starts over 1400m.