Lightly raced Lucas Cranach was a German import trained by Lee Freedman running a slashing fifth in the 2011 Caulfield Cup, a third in the 2011 Melbourne Cup and scoring in the 2012 Group 2 Peter Young Stakes against a high-class field.
Ballarat based Payne trains and rode Jukila to the win for owners Ern and Ronda Clarke (who also own Spring Carnival import Kaspersky). It was also the Clarkes' first ever winner as owners according to Payne.
The winning peroformance stood out as showing signs of a good stayer with Jukila having been headed at the top of the straight before using his superior endurance to come back and run away with the win.
Following the race, trainer and jockey Payne (half) joked that "he's my Derby-Melbourne Cup horse!"
Interestingly, Payne said back in May when Jukila debuted at Pakenham that he was a "lovely horse. Will make a nice stayer!" so today's win was likely no surprise for her.
Bullarook Park Stud manager Malcolm Boyd, who stands Lucas Cranach at his
Avenel property, was absolutely stoked with the first ever winner for his first
class staying sire."It was a real thrill to see the win. It had to happen as Lucas just produces a stunning type of horse," Boyd said.
"The babies are good, the yearlings are strong…they are level-headed horses with a really consistent type.
"The foals on the ground right now are some of the best I have seen while Lucas will serve a crop of 30 or 40 mares this season."
Jukila is out of the Woodman mare Armure Royale (USA) who in turn is out of Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe winning and Champion USA mare All Along (FR).
Armure Royal was bought out of the Inglis Broodmare Sale in Sydney in 2013, put in foal to Lucas Cranach and sent to New Zealand.
He was then sold at the NZB Ready to Run Sale of 2016 for $36,000 to trainer Kevin Myers before being shipped back to Australia to join the Michelle Payne stable.
The stallion served over 250 mares in his first three seasons at stud and Boyd now expects his progeny to become more regularly seen at racetracks as they mature and find more suitable races over distance.
Lucas Cranach stands at $5500 (GST incl) – for more information contact Malcolm Boyd on 0407 342 291
