After crediting her sire Overshare with his first winner when successful on debut at Eagle Farm on November 6, the Anabel Neasham-trained Lady Laguna will target the rich plumbs in the autumn following a dominant performance in Saturday’s Elite Sand & Soil Hcp (1100m) at Rosehill.
With Tommy Berry in the saddle, Lady Laguna dominated from the front. Showing no signs of stopping on the heavy 10 track, Lady Laguna defeated the Epaulette debutant Gendarmerie by four lengths, with Capitalist debutant Wealthy investor a further two lengths back in third.
Neasham said that she is free of the constraints of having to qualify the daughter of Overshare for sales-related races.
“She is not a sales horse. She was purchased from the paddock at Spendthrift by Terry Henderson,” Neasham said.
“I was looking for the right sought of race (for her debut) because she is not eligible for any of the sales races. That trip did her a world of good.
“It was a big ask to send them interstate for their first trip. She did a bit wrong that day but did nothing wrong today. She has come on a lot, and the best thing about it is she handles a heavy track.
“She won readily today. We will see what Tommy says as he has obviously sat on a lot of good two-year-olds.
“Without a doubt, we will be aiming her at some of those rich two-year-old races.
“I’m delighted for OTI. They supported me early in my career. They don’t often have a lot of two-year-old types. They mainly have good stayers, so it is great to get a two-year-old winner in Sydney for them.”
Bred by Spendthrift Australia, Lady Laguna is the second foal and first to race out of the Encosta de Lago mare Catalina De Lago.
A $165,000 Karaka yearling, Catalina De Lago was a three-time winner in New Zealand. She was purchased by Spendthrift for $230,000 from the Baystone Farm draft at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale when carrying a More Than Ready filly.
Out of the unraced Zabeel mare Katie O’Neil, Catalina De Lago is a half-sister to Group III Edward Manifold Stakes winner She will Be Loved (Strategic), and the stakes-placegetters Thorn Dancer (Thorn park) and Mya (Desert King) and to the dam of Group II Karrakatta Plate winner Luke’s Luck (Show a Heart).
Catalina De Lago foaled a filly by Bolt D’Oro (USA) on November 7.
Lady Laguna comes from the first crop of 55 live foals by the Group III VRC Zeditave Stakes winner Overshare.
The son of I Am Invincible stands at Spendthrift Australia for a fee of $11,000.
He has two lots at the Magic Millions and one at the Inglis Classic.
