Lazzura has taken her prizemoney earnings over the $2 million mark with victory in the Golden Pendant, prompting Chris Waller to draw parallels with bonny mares Red Tracer and Catkins.
Despite being a Group 1 winner of the Coolmore Classic, the five-year-old doesn’t carry the superstar status of stablemates Autumn Glow and even Aeliana, but she has been a wonderful stalwart for the stable with seven victories from 19 starts.
Catkins won 16 of her 38 races and Red Tracer 15 of 38, and if Lazzura can continue striking at her current rate, she is on target to retire with a similar record.
“She’s a darling. She’s one of those Catkins, Red Tracer type horses. She’s finding her mould and getting her confidence,” Waller said.
“Only a small field, but she ended up getting a lovely run. Gangsta Granny was the horse to beat and the horse to follow, so it was good to be able to track that horse.
“The other horse (Verona Rose) came late but she held it off well.”
Lazzura ($1.85 fav) scored by 1-1/4 lengths over Verona Rose ($13) with Modella ($6.50) another long neck away third, Gangsta Granny ($6) tiring to finish fifth.
Waller is hoping to send the winner straight to The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick on October 24 without another run, with a trip to Melbourne beckoning after that, possibly in the C F Orr Stakes (1400m).
Winning jockey James Mcdonald believes Lazzura has the scope to feature in another major this campaign and says she still has upside.
“She has been well placed all her life and is just a good horse,” McDonald said.
“I think she can improve again, too. She has some tougher tasks ahead, but she deserves to be in those good races.”
The Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) will be held at Sandown this year and is on November 14.
