Thank his Lucky stars
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Scott Seamer urges Lucky Luna to make it past Rockpecker for the Glasshouse victory (Noel Pascoe photo)
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He’s had a few shots at the bigger races but rarely brought home the chocolates. It was a different story at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, June 27, fortune went Lucky Luna’s way.
The Toowoomba-trained gelding won the Listed Bruce McLachlan Glasshouse Handicap 1400m. The second emergency gained a start in the race after heavy rain resulted in several scratchings.
His trainer Eric Ropiha was delighted with the win. “He’s an up and coming horse,” he said. “We’ve been struggling with bad runs all his life but he’s a good honest horse.”
Lucky Luna (G4 Springsteen-Country Bowl) jumped from barrier 16 and sat wide off the track outside the tight field.
Coming to the turn, Lucky Luna covered ground around the outside and loomed up with Hard to Catch (Glen Colless) in the straight. Jockey Scott Seamer put the pace on the winner in the last 100m and they hit the post with race leader Rockpecker (Damian Browne).
A short head separated them in a photo finish with Rags to Riches (Shane Scriven) third by half a length.
Ropiha was confident he’d nailed the win on the line and was pleased his charge finally collected the first place purse.
“I’ve had him in good races. He chased Hey Elvis home who beat Heart of the Citi,” said the trainer.
“He’s just seems to run five or six deep every run.
“He joins in and he’s so honest he just keeps hitting the line but going in big races I haven’t been able to get any prizemoney. But he snuck in second emergency and got a run.
“My father always said set them for big races and go for it.”
Ropiha had won this race previously with Osca Warrior in 2003 and he was keen to contest it again in 2009 with Lucky Luna. “I said to Scotty Seamer I want to have a crack at the Glasshouse and he said not I, we.”
“Caloundra’s been a great track to me. I love the place.”
Lucky Luna has seldom been out of the prizemoney earning $213,000 for connections from 21 starts, with six wins, two seconds and five thirds.
Ropiha is next looking at racing Lucky Luna in the Weetwood Handicap when the Cushion Track opens at Toowoomba on July 11.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – June 29
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