FIRST WINNER FOR LUCKY OWNERS
FIRST WINNER FOR LUCKY OWNERS Sydney, January 6 - Champion Hong Kong miler Lucky Owners was represented by his first winner when the David Payne trained two year-old filly Soho Secret overcame difficulties to score at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Backed into favouritism after being beaten in somewhat unlucky circumstances when making her debut at Rosehill on December 15, Soho Secret turned that form around to score a tenacious victory after again proving a touch tardy at the start.
She seemed to hesitate momentarily after jumping but soon made ground to be up running third on the home turn and finished full of running to hold on and win by a short neck, with another Lucky Owners first starter in Iron Lady motoring home for fourth.
“She’s very talented, but also very immature so we’ll put her out for a break now,” said Payne, who has dominated the juvenile events in Sydney since racing resumed at the start of December.
Soho Secret was bred and retained to race by the Lucky Owners Syndicate managed by Mr Leung, who raced Lucky Owners with great success in Hong Kong before his retirement to Widden Stud in 2004.
Soho Secret is a half-sister to Group Two winners Sportsman and Prisoner of Love as well as stakes-winner King of Prussia being from the outstanding producer Professionelle (NZ).
Professionelle was bought by Mr Leung at the 2004 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $525,000 with the specific intent of sending her to Lucky Owners.
In foal to Danehill Dancer (IRE) at that time, she subsequently produced a colt from the mating, which Widden Stud sold for Mr Leung at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $750,000.
Her next foal was Soho Secret, so it’s been a phenomenal result for Mr Leung who who also has a yearling full sister to Soho Secret and a filly foal from the mare by Redoute’s Choice.
By legendary sire of sires Danehill (USA) from a three-quarter sister to champion racehorse Might and Power, Lucky Owners was rated the Champion Miler of Hong Kong, so his progeny can only be expected to get better with time.
|
