Local Lilleelavee lights up Toowoomba
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Lilleelavee has previously won big money at Eagle Farm with Kristy Banks onboard (Noel Pascoe photo)
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Punters got it right and local trainers dominated in the $100,000 XXXX Bitter Fillies & Mares Handicap at the Toowoomba Cushion Track on Wednesday, December 23.
Lilleelavee, a four-year-old trained by Toowoomba-based Fred Adams, conquered the 1200 metre distance in utter dominant fashion to bring her career prizemoney to $236,700 which includes $29,000 in QTIS added stakes.
The mare by Spinning World out of Shiatsu was partnered by Kristy Banks who is in some rare form also.
The jockey drove Lilleelavee to the front from barrier eight and by the top of the straight had opened a two length gap. Nothing on the Toowoomba straight was going to stop the four-year-old from claiming her sixth win.
“It was pretty hard to fault really,” Adams said. “It wasn’t a bad lot that she was up against. That mare that ran second (Dance Girl Dance) goes pretty well.
“I just told Kristy to ride her own race. She knows the mare and rides her at work every morning. Kristy’s won races on her, so what more can you tell her.”
Banks has now partnered Lilleelavee for the mare’s two best wins in her 17 start career, which is now highlighted by her effort at Toowoomba alongside a metropolitan win at Eagle Farm on September 9.
The jockey was also on board for the first win of Lilleelavee’s career 12 months prior to her most recent triumph.
An impressive two and three quarter length distance fell to six-year-old mare Dance Girl Dance from the Toowoomba stable of Kelvin Kemp. The race favourite and jockey Ric McMahon were unable to bridge the gap in the straight after making their run from a rear position.
Rocklet, also trained by Kemp, overcame a tight photo finish with Icedane and Manic Monday to place third with Jim Byrne onboard.
Owners of Lilleelavee, Julia, Adrian and Shane Simmons, were on hand for the biggest Wednesday celebrations that Toowoomba has seen in many a year.
The owners also have a two-year-old filly by the name of Lizzeelavee at Adams’ stable who should be looking at her first race start early in the new year.
The Simmons’ connection with the trainer began when Julia raced Lizzeelavee’s dam, Miss Gloryhunter, with Adams in the early part of the decade.
Lilleelavee is now headed for a return to the city with the $100,000 Listed Nudgee Quality Fillies & Mares Handicap 1200m at Eagle Farm on Saturday, January 23 firmly in her sights.
Adams will not dismiss the mares form on the Cushion Track at Toowoomba however with an aim of returning for the prestigious Weetwood Handicap.
Another promising performance at Toowoomba came from Tough Luck in a lead up to the $2 million BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
The two-year-old ridden by Stathi Katsidis posted a one and a half length victory in the 7 Sunrise QTIS 600 2YO Handicap 1000m.
As the filly by Zaha is QTIS and QTIS 600 registered, Tough Luck added $23,750 to her career prizemoney, which included $14,000 in race bonuses.
After five starts the Robert Bradshaw-trained two-year-old looks in fine form for the Magic Millions raceday with three wins and a second. The only question hovering over Tough Luck will be the untried 1200 metre distance.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Ross Dowd – December 30
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