LATE PAYMENT LIKELY FOR ‘MEMPHIS’ IN CADUCEUS CLASSIC
Connections of Overport Lodge filly Delightful Memphis are likely to make a late payment for a crack at the $110,000 Group One Woodlands Stud Caduceus Club Fillies Classic at Auckland on Friday week, April 22.
Trainer Mark Jones says all his owners are keen.
“We went last night (Friday) to give her a run with the Caduceus in mind and she competed well,” Mark said.
Delightful Memphis, a game second in the Auckland Magness Benrow Sires Stakes Fillies Heat on Friday, April 8.
Delightful Memphis wasn’t rushed early in her first start right-handed, but Mark was on the move with her once fully balanced with a lap to run.
She was left in the open over the final round and fought gamely for second.
Trailing favourite and another Bettor’s Delight filly in Spanish Armada, for the All Stars stable, making the most of a sweet trip to win by 1 1/2 lengths in the $22,000 Magness Benrow Sires Stakes 2YO Fillies Heat in a 1:57.7 rate for the 1700m.
The leaders ran in over their last 800m in 57.5s and final 400m in 27.4s.
“I was rapt with her,” Mark said of Delightful Memphis.
“Its is just what filly gets the best run,” he said.
Delighful Memphis has yet to finish further back than second in four starts.
After winning her debut in the Group 3 ‘Sweet Lou’ Leonard Memorial at the Cheviot meeting at Addington on February 28, she was also too good in a similar $25,000 Group 3 south feature, the Northern Southland Club’s Caduceus Club of Southland/Nevele R Stud Mobile Pace at Invercargill on March 12.
With a sit, she outfinished Renske B (parked) at Invercargill
in a 2:01 rate (2200m), the leaders last 800m in 56.1s.
She’s had to settle for seconds from the parked position in her last two starts, in the Addington heat of the Sires Stakes behind All Stars filly Renske B on March 26, and again at Auckland on Friday.
Meanwhile, Thursday’s Forbury maiden 2YO filly winner Lady Lavra, in a 1:58.4 rate (1700m), won’t be seen again until next season.
She led early from the ace for Sam Ottley, trailed Kezza’s Lass, at the 1100m and outfinished Scotlynn Made (parked) by three-quarters of a length.
A daughter of top sire Bettor’s Delight and Lavros Lodge’s good 10-race-winning Life Sign mare That’s Life Lavra, a winner of $191,346, Lady Lavra is a half-sister to Neffeli Lavra (1:53.9, Aust, eight wins & $A76,035) and Bio Marinus (seven NZ wins, 1:56.9, Aust, 10 wins from 44 starts for $A81,350).
“She’s not a natural two-year-old so was a bonus win and to get black type as well,” Mark said.
“She will go to the paddock for good break now.”
Lady Lavra was the stable’s 36th winner for the season, while Louie Finn, late working clear, nearly made it a winning Forbury double, just failing to run down front-running hot favourite Chittybangbang by a nose in a C1 pace.
By Jeff Scott