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Lucia Valentina back for the Apollo; Showboy off to Hong Kong; French feature mare’s main aim.
Lucia Valentina back for the Apollo
Multiple Group One winner Lucia Valentinawill trial on Monday ahead of her return to racing.“She’ll have an outing at Broadmeadow and then she’ll probably kick off in the Apollo Stakes on February 4,” trainer Kris Lees said.
“She did very well during her time off, but she comes to hand quite quickly and she has terrific natural fitness.“She’s a bit bigger and a bit stronger and the Ranvet and the Queen Elizabeth look perfect races for her in the autumn.”
The dual Group One winner of the Turnbull and Vinery Stakes and third in the Caulfield Cup, Lucia Valentina is raced by Wellingtonian Lib Petagna.Showboy off to Hong Kong
The New Zealand racing career of the smart two-year-old Showboy is over following his sale to Hong Kong interests.“He’s out at the moment and I’ll bring him back and get him fit before he goes,” trainer Nigel Tiley said.
The winner of the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes, Showboy was unfortunately scratched from the Listed Karaka Million after suffering a minor leg injury.“It was a tragedy and he would have been right in it,” Tiley said. “He would have got a lovely run three back on the fence from his draw and he’s a real professional.”
French feature mare’s main aim
Silent Achiever is likely to make an appearance at The Championships in Sydney before she travels further afield.
Trainer Roger James said the goal for the O’Reilly mare was the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October.Silent Achiever has been making good progress toward her return and impressed in an exhibition gallop with Shuka at Ellerslie on Karaka Million night.
“She’s very well and that work was as good as she has put in at this stage in a preparation,” James said.