Lyuba returns to form with Moonee Valley win
LYUBA returned in style when winning the MSC Signs Rating 84 Handicap at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The four-year-old mare for Darren Weir was fresh up after finished last at Caulfield in May, but the spell worked wonders and the mare was back to winning form at Moonee Valley over 1000m.
Talented apprentice Ben Allen continued his association with Lyuba which overraced throughout the run, but it was good enough to kick away in the straight for its fourth win from six starts.
“She’s still got the same racing pattern as she had last time in,” Allen said. “Always a bit keen, but to her credit she finished off the race well.”
Lyuba sat just off the pace which was set by Petite’s Reward and Very Choosy, which suited the daughter of Turffontein.
“I thought he (Dylan Dunn aboard Petite’s Reward) was going to come back for a second and that wasn’t going to suit us,” Allen said.
“I was able to get into a rhythm, got cover around the bend… then popped out when we needed to.”
Representing the Darren Weir stables was Darren Murphy who was happy with the effort to get Lyuba to win fresh up.
“Very thrilled with the win,” Murphy said. “The race sort of come on at the right time and she relaxed, followed for another 200 metres before she had to go.
“She was strong to the line and did enough to win.
“Very pleased to win this race with her first up today.”
The complexion of the race changed on Friday when the well-favoured Estaminet and Miss Vista were both scratched from the sprint.
That left bookmakers firming Lyuba into $2.80 before punters got on board and backed it into $2.50 at WilliamHill.com.au with second favourite Very Choosy closing at $2.70.
Darren Weir lines up Stellar Collision in the Montmorency FC Handicap at 5.10pm where the four-year-old gelding is currently $3.40 at CrownBet to remain unbeaten at Moonee Valley.