At Rosehill Gardens today, Lazzura did just enough to complete an outstanding spring preparation by winning the Group 2 $500,000 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m).
With Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller at Flemington, stable representative Darren Beadman addressed the media and admitted of Lazzura’s win: “It wasn’t a gimme.”
Lazzura was a long odds-on favourite ($1.35) and had to work hard to run down leader Gerringong but you always had the feeling she was going to win.
Just a few minutes later, Autumn Glow had to work a little harder than expected to get past stablemate Lindermann in the Group 1 Champions Mile but she still won convincingly on the line.
Autumn Glow goes to the paddock with four wins from four starts this spring, three at Group 1 level, to confirm her reputation as the nation’s best racehorse and lead home a Waller stable trifecta with Lindermann second and Buckaroo third.
Lazzura made it three Group 2 wins in a row from four starts this spring and a growing reputation as one of the most outstanding mares in training.
With star jockey Tommy Berry riding Lazzura like she was the best horse in the race, the horse favourite wore down the game front-runner Gerringong ($6.50) to win by a half neck with another Waller-trained mare, Surf’s Up ($17) more than two lengths away third.
Gerringong was well-rated in front by Nash Rawiller and turned the race into a sprint home with the final 600m in a very fast 32.94s which only adds merit to Lazzura’s win.
Beadman’s trademark sense of humour is never far away and he had a readymade answer when it was suggested Lazzura might have laid in on Gerringong near the line.
“It was as wide as the Sydney Heads, turn it up!” Beadman quipped.
Lazzura goes for a spell after reeling off impressive wins in the Golden Pendant, The Invitation and Hot Danish Stakes.
“She has been in scintillating form,” Beadman said. “She takes all the guess work out of it with her style of racing, she puts herself there.
“The 1400m is about as far as she wants, but she hit her sweet spot today.
“She had to do a bit of work last start when she won The Invitation but today it was pure grit and determination.
“For Ricky Senior and Junior and the Surace family, they put a lot of effort into their horses, what they are searching for and what they breed, so it is a great result.”
Beadman also singled out Berry’s ride for particular praise post-race.
“When the other horse came out of the race, the likely leader, Tommy was able to get there a lot softer than last start when he won The Invitation on her,” Beadman said.
“He ‘curled his mo’, kept his cool, and 1400m is about as far as she wants.
“It was a tidy effort. She’s a Group 1 winner and meeting those horses at level weights, she was thrown in at the weight.
“It was a nice win and Surf’s Up getting stakes placed, picked up some black type, too.”
Berry said Lazzura was able to adapt from a slow early tempo and show her class to edge out a very game Gerringong.
“We went across the line and Nash says ‘that was a good race because we had to fight the whole way down the straight’,” Berry said.
“The margin doesn’t reflect the performance but the time does [32.94s]. We quickened up really well from the 600m, I put in a good kick at the 400m and the 200m. And Nash just stuck with me from there, his is a very good filly on her day.
“Any horse with class can run up a quick 600m if you get an easy time she has done it well.
“I would have enjoyed a bit more give in the track than what is there today but she is a winner and that is what she does.”
Chris Munce, trainer of Gerringong, said his mare has run another great race.
“She has had a good preparation,” Munce said.
“After she won The Nivison first-up, maybe that run took a little bit out of her when she ran fourth in The Invitation even though she wasn’t beaten far.
“But she was back to her best today and ran very well. We will take her home and give her a break now, then set her for the autumn carnival.”
