Racing interstate for the first time in her career, Chris Waller’s 4yo Snitzel mare Lazurra added a fourth black type victory to her record, winning the $300,000 Group 2 VRC Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Off the back of an impressive last start win in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) when resuming, the James McDonald ridden mare jumped away the favourite in the 13-strong field of mares.
With Craig Williams taking So You Think mare Bossy Benita forward to take up the running before the Danny O’Brien trained Miss Aria (Zoustar), who had jumped from the outside gate, settled on the outside of the leader, Lazzura was getting a very cosy run behind the leading duo.
As the runs were starting to come, McDonald decided to get going around the outside of Miss Aria who had dropped back slightly as Bossy Benita still had a kick.
Hitting the lead at the 150m mark, Lazzura was being chased by last start Group 3 Cockram Stakes third placegetter Abounding (Rich Enuff) and the Damian Lane ridden Oh Too Good (All Too Hard).
Once the line was reached, Lazzura held a narrow head margin over Oh Too Good with a further neck back to Abounding in third.
In what was arguably the run of the race, Lazurra’s stablemate Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) charged into fourth after being last with 300m to go.
Last seen when fourth in the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m), off the back of victory in the Group 1 NZ Oaks (2400m) the start prior, Leica Lucy appears to have come back in great order.
Taking her record to five wins (four at black type level) and three placed efforts from 12 starts with earnings of $898,070, there appears plenty of options ahead for the mare, with Group 1 races surely on the horizon.
With Waller at Flemington on Saturday, the Champion trainer continued to highlight the toughness of Lazurra.
“She's tough,” said Waller.
“She puts herself in the race, James gave her a lovely ride.
“She gave a good kick at the 300 metre mark. It got close, but she's tough. She was good over the concluding stages. She's building a good resume.
As to where she will head next, Waller was non-committal to an exact race, but highlighted a range of possibilities.
“Very open minded. She's still in the mix for an Epsom, also a Toorak, then you've got the Golden Eagle as well, and obviously Group One's you want to put on the CV as well.
“The mile will certainly suit, so it's a good problem to have and there's a lot to think about”.
When asked his thoughts on the return run of Leica Lucy, Waller felt there was still a few things that team needed to work out with her as she's only been with the stable since April.
“She's a very good horse, we know that, she did a great job at her only start in Sydney in the Oaks and that was the end of a very long prep so she's a beauty,” said Waller.
“She did a great job to come from where she did, she's still working a few things out, she needs to go straight and put it all together."
“I'll speak to Ozzie (Kheir), they're pretty good with form and what races are around. I don't think we'll get too far in distance but same again, the mile, Golden Eagle, they're all races that we think can look after her, space her runs this prep and have a rising star for races next year as well.”
McDonald echoed the sentiments of Waller after the win of Lazzura.
“She's got so much quality, gives her all and she's so nice to ride, she's a pleasure.”
Bred by the Arrowfield Group and Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd, Lazzura was a $500,000 Magic Millions purchase for B2B Thoroughbreds from the Arrowfield Stud draft.
A three-quarter sister to stakes-placed Portorosa, Lazzura is the best of three winners from winning Japanese import Laguna Azzurra(Jpn), a half-sister by Heart’s Cry to Group 3 winner Seewind from stakes-winner Silky Lagoon.
It is also the extended family of Japanese Champion 3YO Colt in Kizuna, who is intun the sire of 43 stakes winner, three at Group 1 level as well as Group 3 winner Eri King, who is out of the Australian bred, Group 1-winning High Chaparral mare Youngstar.
Laguna Azzurra has an unraced 3yo colt by The Autumn Sun, produced a filly by Snitzel last spring and is due to foal to Farnan - Kia Ora Stud’s Leading First Season Sire of last season.
Lazzura is one of 161 stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud’s multiple Champion Sire Snitzel who has a host of Group 1-winning sons at stud in Australia including Shinzo, Switzerland, In The Congo and Wild Ruler.
