Lucia Valentina Storms to Queen Elizabeth Win

Last on the home turn, Lucia Valentina swept past rivals to win the Aus$4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Aus-I) April 9 at Royal Randwick.

 

The New Zealand-bred Savabeel mare appeared momentarily unsteady entering the stretch with Damien Oliver, bobbling before finding her feet. Guided to clear running room, she unleashed a devastating turn of foot to  defeat favorite The United States by 2 1/4 lengths with Happy Clapper third. 

 

"She looked in a lot of trouble on the turn, she dipped and went down on her nose but I just knew she had that blistering turn of foot if she got a bit of clear running," said winning trainer Kris Lees said.

 

Owned by Lib Petanga, Lucia Valentina added a third top-level victory in taking autumn's richest race in 2:04.82 for 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) on turf rated as soft.

 

The 5-year-old mare out of Montjeu daughter Staryn Glenn, has a 7-1-4 record from 27 starts, including wins in the 2014 Turnbull (Aus-I) at Flemington and Vinery Stud Stakes (Aus-I) at Rosehill. She has amassed purse earnings of Aus$4,197,303.

 

 

One race earlier on the card, Day 2 of The Championships showcasing the best of Australian racing, Oliver piloted favorite Azkadellia to rail-skimming victory in the Coolmore Legacy Queen of the Turf Stakes (Aus-I).

 

A 4-year-old New Zealand-bred daughter of Shinko King, Azkadellia won by two lengths from Heavens Above and finished 1,600 meters (about one mile) in 1:35.98. She earned an automatic starting berth in the into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) later this year at Santa Anita Park through the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. 

 

Azkadellia, 6-5-2 from 14 lifetime, came in off a third behind to superstar mare Winx and Happy Clapper in last Saturday's Star Doncaster Mile (gr. I) at Royal Randwick. Trained by Ciaron Maher, Azkadellia has had strong finishes in her other two starts this year, including just a half-length defeat by Peeping in the 7 1/2-furlong Coolmore Classic (G1) at Rosehill March 12 and a head victory in the seven- furlong Premier Signs Mannerism Stakes (Aus-III) Feb.27 at Caulfield. 

 

 

Saturday's card also included wins by New Zealand-bred Sofia Rosa (Makfi) in the Australian Oaks (Aus-I) and Irish-bred Gallante (Montjeu) in the Schweppes Sydney Cup (Aus-I).