Lekvarte bounces back from first-up failure to claim her biggest win in Group 2 Emancipation Stakes ahead of broodmare sale

What is likely to be her final racing preparation, Lekvarte powered through the heavy track at Rosehill to claim a thrilling win in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes.

Lekvarte powers home to claim the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Lekvarte burst through the $1m earner barrier and did her future breeding prospects no harm with a maiden Group 2 victory at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday.

The eye-catching grey gave trainer Joe Pride a quick-fire stakes double when she scored impressively in the Group 2 $300,000 Emancipation Stakes (1500m).

Pride had just watched stable weapon Ceolwulf win a nailbiter in the Group 2 Neville Sellwood before Lekvarte saluted in similarly thrilling circumstances.

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Lekvarte ($18) burst clear in the straight before holding off the flying but luckless Lazzura ($2.50 favourite) to score by a short head with 1¾ lengths back to Harlem Queen ($8.50).

“Gee she sprinted quickly on that ground,” Pride said.

“If you look at her form she has been a horse who has struggled on wet ground

“That was a really good run and a Group 2.”

Lekvarte didn’t beat a runner home first-up in the Wenona Girl but Pride indicated to jockey Josh Parr that the daughter of Reliable Man was more than capable of an improved showing.

Parr gave Lekvarte a perfect steer from back in the field, angling into clear air early in the straight and unleashing the six-year-old.

“Joe gave me great confidence going in and said she’s in really good condition,” Parr said.

“I couldn’t believe the power that she gave me when she travelled up behind them then got clear air and let go.

“It is a fun job at times, I’ll tell you.”

Separate feature race doubles to @JoshuaParr8 and @PrideRacing with Lekvarte winning the G2 Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill! 💥@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/zJ8uxpdfMr

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 1, 2025

The Chris Waller-trained Lazzura raced in restricted room for the majority of straight before surging late.

Jockey Tommy Berry was succinct when summing up her run: “She should have won quite easily.”

Lekvarte, already a multiple Group 3 winner, will have one final run in the Group 1 $1m Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on day two of The Championships before she is sold as a breeding prospect in May.

“She’s in the Chairman’s Sale in six weeks’ time,” Pride said.

“She’ll have one more run in the Queen Of The Turf but she’s done her job in so many ways already so to get another good win out of her, it’ll be a sad day when she finishes.”

“She’s a lovely mare.

“It was an excellent win and nice to see a mare at her age still racing on so well.”

Originally published as Lekvarte bounces back from first-up failure to claim her biggest win in Group 2 Emancipation Stakes ahead of broodmare sale