Noonan captures first Flemington victory in five years with Dazzling Lucy’s drought-breaking win

Dazzling Lucy claimed a drought-breaking win at Flemington which also ended a barren run for her trainer Tony Noonan.

Dazzling Lucy and Tony Noonan (inset). Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Mornington trainer Tony Noonan joked he needed directions to Flemington after Dazzling Lucy’s drought-breaking win.

Noonan had not won a race at Flemington since Remastered won for the stable on New Year’s Day 2020.

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“I went to the filling station this morning, getting a coffee, and I asked (fellow trainer) Jason Warren to lend me a map to Flemington because I’d forgotten how to get here,” Noonan said.

Dazzling Lucy had also gone a long time without winning, posting her previous success at The Valley in December 2022.

“She hasn’t got the best feet,” Noonan said.

“She’s got very flat, shelly feet, and they have taken a lot of care with her.

“She’s a lot better at home with a bit of give in the ground. That’s why we just space those runs and try to manage her the best we can.”

Dazzling Lucy had shown she was capable of breaking her winless run when an unlucky first-up fourth in a small field at Caulfield last month.

Noonan’s son Jake earned his father’s praise when sending Dazzling Lucy forward to race near the speed at her second-up outing before the mare dug deep to hold off the Nick Ryan-trained Material Dreams to score narrowly.

Dazzling Lucy causes an upset at Flemington!

Samangu every chance...@[e-mail]/D70gVHc7Uf

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 18, 2025

Noonan Sr said Jake’s handling of the mare was one of the factors that led to her triumph in front of a big group of owners.

“I know when you haven’t won for that long, you can lose a bit of faith but she’s honest,” Noonan said.

“Everything married up today.

“She found the right part of the track, she likes a bit of room as she doesn’t like being cluttered up because she’s a big mare.

“She got a good ride from Jake, which is not unusual, but I’m a bit biased.”

The short-price favourite Samangu showed speed before boxing on solidly to finish third, a half-length from the winner.

ARCH STANDS TALL

Apprentice Jaylah Kennedy won a battle of wits when Marble Arch claimed the TAB We’re On (1600m).

Kennedy was up against five rivals in the $150,000 race, which quickly developed into a tactical affair when a slow speed prevailed early.

Kennedy got the best out of Marble Arch ($2.80 fav) in the last 100m, grinding past the early leader Wings Of Song ($3.80) to score by a short head.

“Jaylah tried to take a sit early and then she made the right decision to roll forward as they went slowly and it developed into a sprint home and she was really tough,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.

“I was happy Jaylah made that decision to roll forward and I did give her an open book. She made the right move.”

Marble Arch toughs it out in the opener! 💪@[e-mail]/I8InyPAh0O

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 18, 2025

GARNACHO SCORES

Garnacho gave co-trainer David Browne a few worries but the three-year-old showed his ability with his determined Flemington success.

Garnacho, named after young Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho, finished third over 1400m on New Year’s Day but relished the 1600m on Saturday, getting home narrowly over the early leader Zorro’s Flight.

Browne said he was initially concerned Garnacho had dashed his own winning chances but the gelding was brave when it mattered.

Garnacho gets his head down on the line to salute! #RichosRoughies is on the board early. 👏@[e-mail]/2LffPDvfzw

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 18, 2025

“I probably thought he had done enough early as he pulled hard enough and didn’t settle in the first 400m and I thought itmight have beaten him but in the end, he was incredibly tough,” Browne said.

“He’s come a long way in the last three or four months. He’s tidied up his attitude and he’s now wanting to do things correctly.”

Originally published as Noonan captures first Flemington victory in five years with Dazzling Lucy’s drought-breaking win