Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Tiny black New Zealand-bred filly Im Themightylucy emerged as a leading contender for the $150,000 WA Oaks next Friday night when she unwound a sparkling late burst of speed to win the $20,250 NYE Bookings Now Open at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She was a $7.60 chance from the inside of the back line and was handled brilliantly by Maddison Brown, who was driving her for the first time.
Brown retained her composure as she kept Im Themightylucy at the rear while the $2.50 favourite Wonderful To Fly was setting a strong pace after starting from the outside of the front line and racing three wide for the first 420m before taking the lead 130m later.
Im Themightylucy was in eighth position, four back on the pegs, with 350m to travel before Brown got her into the clear. The diminutive filly followed the three-wide run of the $3.70 second favourite Little Darling before switching four wide on the home turn and sprinting fast to hit the front in the final 30 metres.
She won by a length from Little Darling, rating 1.56.2 over 2130m. This gave Im Themightylucy her seventh win from 12 starts. After a win from three New Zealand starts and an unplaced run in South Australia Im Themightylucy joined the Mundijong stables of Michael Young and her eight starts under his care have produced six wins, one second and one unplaced effort.
Im Themightylucy is by American stallion Sweet Lou and is the third foal out of the New Zealand mare Vegas Delight, who raced 36 times for five wins, 14 placings and $48,071. She is a half-sister to Double Up, who travelled to America in July this year after earning $186,494 from 15 wins and 15 placings. Double Up won at two of his 14 New Zealand starts before shining for trainers Greg and Skye Bond in WA with his 30 starts produced 13 wins and ten placings.
“I was very pleased with the run and the way she sprinted home tonight,” said Young. “She is definitely a contender for the Oaks next week.
“She is not as versatile as some of the others but what she’s got with her speed probably makes up for the lack of versatility. She also has a bit of heart, and I don’t know whether we’ve seen the bottom of her, strength wise, as yet.”