Promising filly Lucy In The Sky will launch her bid for higher age group honours when she resumes at Ellerslie.
The Cambridge Stud-bred and raced daughter of Hello Youmzain will kick off in the Elsdon Park 3YO (1200m) on Sunday before she returns to stakes company.
The Tony Pike-trained Lucy In The Sky made a good impression as a juvenile with a debut victory at northern headquarters.
That form proved to be significant with runner-up Miss Ziggy subsequently placing in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1200m) and third placegetter Lollapalooza winning the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and finishing second in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
Lucy In The Sky then ran sixth in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) before landing the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) at her last appearance in May.
“She obviously raced late into her two-year-old season, but she didn’t quite spell as well as we wanted in the winter,” Pike said.
“We thought the early three-year-old races would come up a bit quickly for her, so we put her back out in the paddock.”
Lucy In The Sky indicated her readiness to return to action when placing in an open 1200m at Avondale last month.
“She trialled very well and we’d like to think she’s going to be competitive in some of the better three-year-old races,” Pike said.
“She certainly looks like she will be and based on her last barrier trial and the way she’s been working, she is forward enough to resume and run well.
“At this stage, we’ll use this race as a lead-up to the Almanzor Trophy (Gr.3, 1200m) on Karaka Millions night. That’s a short-term goal and then we’ll map out a program from there.”
Pike is also keen on the chances at Ellerslie of Wind Rush, who will be partnered by apprentice Sam McNab in the Myracehorse Handicap (1300m).
“He’s due a winning turn from a good gate (5), the three-kilo claim will really help him and he’s clearly my other best chance at the meeting,” he said.
Wind Rush was second when resuming at Te Rapa and then finished a sound fourth under 59.5kg at Ellerslie.
Meanwhile, emerging three-year-old Argo, an ownership mate of Lucy In The Sky, has come through his run for third in the Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m) in grand order.
“He bounced through the run really well, it was a big step up in class from running in a Rating 65 into a good quality Group Two,” Pike said.
“He travelled super and jogged up to them, he almost got there too soon, so he is obviously progressing well.
“We’ll just see how he does in the next week or so and we’re giving some consideration to running in the three-year-old mile on Karaka Millions night.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
