Classy Love You Lucy earns Christmas feature tilt

Toowoomba mare too smart for Clifford Park rivals.

Millen Falcon (gold colours) and apprentice Noriyuki Masuda outlast Studly Rooster to win today’s Benchmark 58 Handicap at Clifford Park. Picture: Nev Madsen.

RACING: Toowoomba mare Love You Lucy booked herself a Christmas feature berth after returning to the winner’s circle with a classy Clifford Park victory tonight.

Love You Lucy added further weight to trainer Barry Squair’s high opinion of her with a strong-finishing display in the Brown & Hurley Toowoomba RQ Summer Provincial Sprinters Seies Heat (1110m).

The Love Conquers All four-year-old settled near the tail of the six-horse field for Ron Goltz before unwinding a strong finish when clear in the home straight to run down race leader Bella Occhi (2.30) to score 1½ lengths in class record time.

New Alliance was a further 4¼ lengths back third.

Love You Lucy’s win earned her ballot-free entry into the Summer Provincial Sprint Series final (1300m) at Eagle Farm on December 21 with Squair confirming the $125,000 feature a definite target.

“Every start she has got better and this time in she’s really showed she is going to do something for us,” Squair said after Love You Lucy notched her fourth win from 11 outings.

“We’ll go to the final now in this series, and I tell you what, they’ll know she’s in it.

“I think Eagle Farm will suit her and the further they go the better she’s going to be.”

Goltz said he had a few anxious moments before gaining a winning split on straightening where Love You Lucy’s acceleration quickly put the race beyond doubt.

“Once I got clear air I knew I had the leader covered,” Goltz said.

“She did that at Ipswich the other day where she was the most impressive I’ve seen her.

“Today she was still very good. She’s going places. I rate her very highly.”

Millen Falcon and apprentice Noriyuki Masuda return to the winner’s stall. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Former Sydney galloper Millen Falcon ($4.60) added to his good form since arriving in Toowoomba with a return to the winner’s list in the Naismith Truck Movers Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m).

Millen Falcon did best for apprentice Noriyuku Masuda in a driving finish to edge out Studly Rooster ($21) by a half head.

The win was the Star Witness three-year-old’s second from four starts for trainer Matt Boland who minutes earlier also scored with Royal Warfare at the Gold Coast.

“He’s a lovely big horse, he’s extremely well bred and he’s one from down south,” Boland said.

“When we got him I thought he was just a bit green so we’ve done some educational stuff with him and he’s come along really well.

“I think he’s getting better and better and I think there’s bigger things to come for him.”

Trainer Lindsay Hatch and jockey Josh Oliver combined for a winning double on the seven-race card with Pieridae ($1.35 fav) and For My Annie ($2.90).

THE WIN

JUST when supporters of Maiden Handicap hotpot Let’s Boom were counting their cash near home along came $18 pop LEOPARD QUEEN for Oakey trainer Terry Hall and apprentice Minehiko Shimodaira to grab the cash from under their noses and send them looking for a recovery drink.

THE TRAINER

BARRY SQUAIR has ridden and saddled his share of top gallopers during an epic Clifford Park career and he looks to have another nice mare on his hands in Love You Lucy as she continues working her way up the ladder in impressive style.

THE RIDER

RON GOLTZ has turned back the clock in recent weeks, knocking up riding winners and favourite backers were in good hands as he overcame some worrying moments to steer a perfect winning course aboard Love You Lucy in the Benchmark 70.

FROM THE STAND

After a big week for punters and the bookies, they lined up again.

Wednesday in Toowoomba was a mixed day with some bookies winning and some losing.

Race 1: A good race to kick off with and the bookie got to lay all runners. Carpe Noctem was the track tip and the cash rolled in at 9.50. Rock Me Hussey was specked at 10.00. The early favourite and winner Millen Falcon was a big drifter, 3.40 to start 4.60 and paid big unders on the tote. After placings the bookie chopped out on the first.

Race 2: Punters had it down to Bella Occhi and Love You Lucy. There was very small money on the other runners. Then the money came for the winner Love You Lucy, first a phone bet of $2000 at 2.00 followed up by a cash bet of $3000 at 2.00 to put the bookie on the canvas.

Race 3: Punters were a bit wary in the maiden race at first and then the small money came in on track. There was money for Coalbank Cavalary and Ruffin’it. The owners of Lets Boom then lined up and took the 2.00 on offer. The phone rang and a $2000 bet at 2.00 came into the book. The winner in Leopard Queen saw a small bet at 19.00 and the bookie was back on his feet.

Race 4: A cup-of-tea race. There was small good eachway bets on Westover at 10.00. The track bookie went up 1.45 on Pieridae and saw one bet of $1200 at the 1.45. Josh Oliver rode a heady race on Pieridae and showed contempt for the others.

Race 5: The early favourite in Oia was impossible to lay and the bookie was 5.00 at jump time with no takers. The connections were on Kumari at 10.00. The others went around with no support. The winner Jody Qualo was 10.00 and again paid unders on the tote.

Race 6: A small betting race here. Murless was hard to lay and the bookies was 3.50 with little takers. For My Annie was easy to lay at 3.00 and the bookie again chopped out on the race.

Race 7: punters were not keen on Crazy One and the bookie had to bet 3.00 to see any money. Tapa Bonnie was backed each way at 9.50. Jet A One saw a phone bet of $1000 at 2.20 and then the cash money came on track at go 2.40 with a $800 cash at 2.40 to see the bookie go home a small loser on the night.

CLIFFORD PARK

Track: Good 4

Rail: Out 3m entire course

1._ BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP, 1300m: 4.60 MILLEN FALCON (ch g 3yo Star Witness-Silk And Money. Trainer: Matt Boland) 58.5 carr 56.5 (N. Masuda) 1; 21.00 STUDLY ROOSTER 57.5 (N. Thomas) 2; 7.00 TOORAK COMEDY 54.5 (K. Yoshida) 3.

Then followed: 5.00 Carpe Noctem, 10.00 Rock Me Hussey, 3.70 fav Eskdale Girl, 31.00 Checkmate King, 12.00 Tequila Boom, 6.50 Frascati Miss last.

Won by ½ hd, 2¼ lens. Time: 1:19.57. Last 600m: 37.22.

2._ BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP, 1110m: 1.80 fav LOVE YOU LUCY (b m 4yo Love Conquers All-Whitechapel. Trainer: Barry Squair) 55.5 (R. Goltz) 1; 2.30 BELLA OCCHI 59 carr 56 (Sophie Wilcock) 2; 15.00 NEW ALLIANCE 58.5 (Beau Appo) 3.

Then followed: 51.00 Turbo Teddy, 11.00 Loveson, 26.00 Gets Smokin’ last.

Won by 1½ lens, 4¼ lens. Time: 1:06.30 (class record). Last 600m: 35.38.

3._ MAIDEN HANDICAP, 1210m: 18.00 LEOPARD QUEEN (b m 5yo Animal Kingdom (USA)-Alexandrova) 55 carr 53 (M. Shimodaira) 1; 1.65 fav LET’S BOOM 54.5 (K. Yoshida) 2; 5.50 ELYSIA 54 (Brooke Ainsworth) 3.

Then followed: 9.00 Ruffin’ It, 9.00 Mongelica, 31.00 Better Brother, 31.00 I Want Your Love, 101.00 The Moa Factor, 21.00 Viking Clap, 18.00 Coalbank Cavalry, 101.00 Brighter Days last.

Won by 1½ lens, 2 lens. Time: 1:14.51. Last 600m: 37.56.

4._ CLASS 4 HANDICAP, 870m: 1.35 fav PIERIDAE (b m 5yo Hinchinbrook-Butterfly Club. Trainer: Lindsay Hatch) 59 (J. Oliver) 1; 13.00 WESTOVER 54 (Beau Appo) 2; 4.80 FORTYSHORT 4.80 (N. Evans) 3.

Then followed: 81.00 Shadwell Flyer, 81.00 Chevy’s Desire, 7.50 She Keeps Nosecret last.

Won by ½ len., ½ len. Time: 51.33. Last 600m: 34.67.

5._ MAIDEN HANDICAP, 1870m: 10.00 JONDY QUALO (br g 5yo Sequalo-Anna Mia. Trainer: John Thomas) 54 (Hannah Phillips) 1; 5.00 ef HALEIGHOZAE 57.5 (K. Yoshida) 2; 19.00 SHEINDLIN 54 carr 52 (M. Shimodaira) 3.

Then followed: 5.00 ef Oia, 5.50 Major Oak, 7.00 I Know Yves, 7.00 Kumari last.

Won by 4½ lens, 3¼ lens. Time: 1:58.30. Last 600m: 40.25.

6._ CLASS 1 PLATE, 1000m: 2.90 FOR MY ANNIE (ch h 4yo Shaft-Babylonia. Trainer: Lindsay Hatch) 59 (J. Oliver) 1; 5.50 DEEP MELODY 55.5 (L. Tilley, 5.50) 2; 4.40 MISS HOW LONG 55.5 (Skye Bogenhuber) 3.

Then followed: 11.00 Get Me Charlie, 31.00 American Crown, 3.30 Murless, 31.00 Harryandthetiger last.

Won by 1¼ lens, len. Time: 59.97. Last 600m: 35.16.

7._ 3-Y-O BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP, 1000m: 2.20 JETAONE (b or br c 3yo Deep Field-Hadavision (USA). Trainer: Tony Sears) 58 (N. Thomas) 1; 4.80 KASITA 55.5 (N. Evans) 2; 41.00 ORSETTO 57 (W. O’Connell) 3.

Then followed: 2.70 Crazy Good, 8.50 Tap Bonnie, 81.00 Lucky Senator last.

Won by short head, 2 lens. Time: 1:00.96. Last 600m: 35.36.

DALBY

Track: Good 3

Rail: Out 2.5m 600-300m

True the remainder

1._ BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP, 1400m: PICK OF THE PUBS (Leeanne McCoy, 3.60) 1; Pretty Song (M. Schrapel, 4.00) 2; That’s Her I Think (Cecily Eaton, 4.00) 3.

Then followed: Angels Love, Demesne, Whitman, Rockuzzo, Priceless De Hero, Chasingwagtails.

Won by 1.75 lens, 1.25 lens. Time: 1:23.54.

Winner trained by Dave Reynolds.

2._ MAIDEN PLATE, 1300m: ENCHANTED REIGN (M. Schrapel, 5.00) 1; Babylon Express (Hannah Phillips, 4.00) 2; Complete Trust (R. Goltz, 13.00) 3.

Then followed: Rock Easy, Patrick’s Me Mate, Love Puzzle, Britzel, Missgoodytwoshoes.

Won by 11.3 lens, 2.3 lens. Time: 1:16.51.

Winner trained by Lynda Powell.

3._BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP, 1200m: SEQUASI (R. Goltz, 3.50) 1; Victory Dance (P. Randall, 4.40) 2; Leroy Rocks (Cecily Eaton, 4.40) 3.

Then followed: Teya, Te Rangi, Telloff, Wolf Tales.

Won by .1 len., len. Time: 1:11.00.

Winner trained by Eric Ropiha.

4._ OPEN HANDICAP, 1100m: HE’S A MORAL (Leeanne McCoy, 4.00) 1; Machu Picchu (Hannah Phillips, 2.25) 2; Remember Mary (M. Shimodaira, 3.80) 3.

Then followed: Rough Eddie, Allena.

Won by .2 len., len. Time: 1:03.92.

Winner trained by Dave Reynolds.

5._ BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP, 1000m: GENG (Sophie Wilcock, 4.60) 1; Mellore ( Savva, 2.60) 2; Ask Audrey (M. Schrapel, 5.00) 3.

Then followed: Swift Response, Last Round, Megashot, It’s My Time, Lucky Al.

Won by len., .4 len. Time: 58.96.

Winner trained by Stephen Kirkwood.