Speedy Luiza breaks new ground for Waller

Luiza has broken new ground for Chris Waller in giving him his first pre-Christmas two-year-old winner.

Waller usually produces juveniles later in the season with an eye towards their three-year-old year.

But Luiza challenged that trend with her pace proving too much for her rivals in the Kirkham Plate at Randwick on Saturday.

And that break-neck speed may put her in contention for next year’s Golden Slipper.

“The way she won you’d certainly be dreaming of Slippers,” stable representative Charlie Duckworth said.

Luiza ($6.50) and China Gale engaged in a hot speed battle while $1.75 favourite Showtime sat behind them.

China Gale weakened and Luiza sprinted to hold off the finish of Hawkes Racing-trained Showtime, a $1.1 million yearling who is a full-brother to Sweet Idea.

Lightz ($11), the son of Golden Slipper winners Sepoy and Polar Express, finished third.

Duckworth said Luiza was a late entry into the race after impressing in trackwork on Tuesday.

“We haven’t exactly done anything massively different with her, she’s just been a complete natural from the get go,” Duckworth said.

Despite the convincing win, jockey Glyn Schofield said Luiza had a lot of improvement.

“She’s still got a lot to learn even though she seemed very professional from the eye,” Schofield said.

“She has a good look and has a good think about things.

“She doesn’t run through the bridle and do things like a precocious two-year-old should.”

Luiza was a $150,000 yearling and races in the colours of Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds sydnicate.

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