Stakes double on the cards for Lucyinrio
IF all things go to plan for the prodigiously talented Lucyinrio, the mare will be seeking to race among the country’s elite upon its return.
The sparingly-raced daughter of Captain Rio, which was group placed during her last preparation, is making good progress toward a return to racing.
The horse’s trainer Kylie Little said that Lucyinrio has returned in good order.
“She’s doing well and she had a gallop with Kawi at New Plymouth recently,” Little said.
The ideal scenario for Lucyinrio would be to resume in the Group Two Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on August 19, and if all things go to plan the mare would progress through to the Group One Tarzino Trophy at Hawke’s Bay a fortnight later.
“She’ll have a trial and then hopefully she can get in the Foxbridge and she is nominated for the first two races at Hastings,” the trainer said.
Lucyinrio has won twice from 13 starts and in the autumn she showed its talent in claiming a third placed finished in the Group Three Westbury Classic behind Thee Auld Floozie and Mime.
The five-year-old was then turned out after she turned in a meritorious effort for eighth, beaten only three lengths from the winner Charmont in the Group One New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.
Little believes Lucyinrio has returned a more mature horse.
“She’s a lot more professional now, she was still learning the game before,” Little said.
“She’s a big girl and she’s strengthened – she’s as wide as she is tall.”