Disappointing in her last two starts off the back of a solid fourth three starts back behind potential superstar Sheza Alibi at G2 level, Nick Olive’s 3yo Tagaloa filly Spicy Lu looks to have her campaign back on track, winning the $160,000 Listed BRC Princess Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
With Olive coming out in the media and hoping the filly wouldn’t get a wet track, the rain arrived in Queensland with the track unfortunately coming up a Heavy 8 by Spicy Lu’s race, but as the result highlights, there was nothing to worry about.
Scratched from the G1 SAJC South Australian Oaks (2000m) after drawing barrier 18, Spicy Lu looks likely target the Doomben Roses and Queensland Oaks in the coming weeks if she comes through Saturday's run.
With apprentice Coriah Keatings riding the filly, the pair jumped away well from barrier six before pushing on to go to the lead, going quite a few lengths clear.
Five lengths in front leading into the final bend, the question remained would the wet track take its toll or would she just keep on going.
Although those behind her did make up many lengths in the run to the line, the catch me if you can tactics paid dividends, as the filly held off the late run of the Chris Waller trained Zousain filly She Moves Too, winning by a quarter of a length.
Finishing a narrow third, the Tony and Maddysen Sears trained Nightline (NZ) did a very good job, having not raced since her win in January.
Taking her record to five wins from 13 starts and earnings of $452,375, it's been a brilliant return on investment for Olive who purchased the filly for just $30,000 from the Book 2 draft of Vinery Stud at the Magic Millions yearling sale.
Bred by the Esplin family, Spicy Lu is the best of three winners from All Salsa, a metro winning Charge Forward mare that comes from an international female family tracing back to Champion European 3YO Filly Salsabil.
Unfortunately, All Salsa died after producing just one more foal, a filly named Added Spice, an unraced 2yo daughter of Darley’s Victor Ludorum (GB) in the Ballarat stable of Henry Dwyer.
One of ten stakes performers for G1 Blue Diamond winter Tagaloa, the son of Lord Kanaloa (JPN) is having a solid season with his gutsy 3yo grey daughter Salty Pearl having finished third and fifth at G1 level in her last two starts, taking her earnings just shy of $1m.
