After winning the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast, Love You Lucy did not have the rub of the green in the Listed Helen Couglin Plate at Doomben at her most recent start, however Barry Squair’s underrated daughter of Love Conquers All bounced back to win a thrilling Group II Dane Ripper stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Second last on the home turn, Glenn Colless came with a weaving run close to the rails to defeat River Racer (Hidden Dragon) by a neck with a half-head back to Winter Bride (Not A Single Doubt) in third.
Colless said there was plenty of drama before the win.
"The barrier blanket got caught in the gates as we were leaving and it pulled my shoe out of one of my irons. Luckily I was going back anyway and it didn't cost us but there was a bit of panic at the start," Colliss revealed.
"Barry (Squair) wanted her to get to the outside but when I reached the top of the lane the whole field were headed out wide and I just stuck to the rail. I think it was a little chopped up wide given the way they've been winning today.
"I couldn't believe it when I got the call from Barry to ride her. I saw what she did down the Gold Coast a couple of starts ago and fantastic to share this Group Two with him."
Squair said the only instruction he gave was to have Love You Lucy travelling within herself.
"The big thing I told Glen was just to hold her back and not let her go too early. She just over raced slightly the last time out up on the speed and I wanted her to get back and run on," Squair said.
"Mark Du Plessis rode her at last start but got the ride on Outback Barbie earlier on and stayed on Gollan's horse for this race. I wanted an experienced jockey to replace him and Glen Colless is just that.
"I really don't know where to go with her next. The owners were over the moon when we won the Silk Stocking now she's won a Group Two.
"She's been up for a long time now maybe I'll give her a break but If I see something I like me might go one more."
"She's a lovely filly I always thought she would do well but she's won her eight races so quickly it's certainly surprised me.
"I dislocated my shoulder riding her before the Silk Stocking and my wife told me no more riding at track work, but I might sneak back on when I'm feeling better."
Love You Lucy’s second stakes success advances her record to 8 wins, 5 seconds and a third from 19 starts with earnings of $366,325.
Part-owner Maryann Goggins had purchased Love You Lucy’s dam Whitechapel for just $3000 from the Lyndhurst Stud draft at the 2013 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
A 2-time winning daughter of Giant’s Causeway (USA), Whitechapel is one of six winners out of the Group II MVRC Sunline Stakes winner Spurn (Flying Spur).
Whitechapel has an unraced 2yo Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) filly named Bonnie Boru. She was not covered in 2017 and slipped in 2018.
Love You Lucy is one of four stakes-winners for the Mossman stallion Love Conquers All, a former Sun Stud resident who will stand the 2020 season at Clear Mountain Fairview at a fee of $5,500.
