Amy McLucas guides Madrina to overdue win
Determined to make the most of the exodus of senior riders to Brisbane and finish the final two months of her apprenticeship with a bang, Amy Mclucas got off to a flying start at Randwick with an all-the-win aboard Tulloch Lodge filly Madrina.
The 24-year-old brought up her 12th city win of the season and 27th overall as she looks to consolidate her place in the riding ranks before the end of her indentures in August.
“It’s these opportunities in the winter that I need to help me when I come out of my time to keep me rolling along,” McLucas said.
“I was worried early in the run, she was changing legs a bit.
“But I think she was a little bit green still. She will get a lot of confidence from that.”
As will McLucas, who took Madrina ($3.70) to the front and dictated terms at a moderate tempo, allowing the youngster to give a strong kick in the straight and score a comfortable 2-1/4 length win over her Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stablemate Buckingham Palace ($7).
Shamadan started a $2.70 betting app favourite and worked home late to grab third, another length away.
Neil Paine, representing the Waterhouse-Bott stable to which McLucas is apprenticed, said the race was an easy watch with their two runners prominent throughout and suited by the slow tempo.
“They would have had to run home in nothing to beat her and as it turns out, we have run first and second so the quinella is beautiful,” Paine said.
“It is great that Gai and Adrian claimed on her as she is not a real big filly, she’s only small.
“But take nothing away from the second horse, Buckingham Palace kept trying hard so it was good effort by both.
“They will be nice horses in the future.”
Madrina’s win in Saturday’s Schweppes Handicap (1100m) was well deserved, the filly having finished runner-up at three of her four prior starts.
She also continued Tulloch Lodge’s heady two-year-old season, Waterhouse and Bott winning 30 juvenile races so far this term, including the Golden Slipper with Lady Of Camelot.
More Racing News
Snitzanova blitzes rivals in Sandown Guineas
Snitzanova has continued the run of success for fillies in the Sandown Guineas since the race was transferred to Caulfield with a stylish win on Saturday. Having done her early racing in Sydney, Snitzanova made her Melbourne debut with victory in the Group 2 race over 1600m. Snitzanova emulated See You In Heaven and...
Eagle Nest outshines rivals to win Starlight Stakes
Gerald Ryan was beginning to question his assessment of Eagle Nest when she was marked at double-figure odds for the Starlight Stakes, but the Rosehill horseman had the last laugh as the mare ran her rivals ragged. Posted the second roughest of the nine contenders at $20, Eagle Nest led under Tom Sherry and...
Flight delay no worry for Rachel King
Sydney jockey Rachel King wondered if she would make it to Caulfield in time for her ride on Arapaho in the Zipping Classic. King was forced to miss two of her earlier rides on the Caulfield card after being stranded in Sydney on Saturday due to a delay with flights because of poor...
Private Eye back to best in Festival Stakes win
Joe Pride has been at a loss to explain the efforts of Private Eye this spring and he is no closer to figuring it out following the gelding’s inexplicable return to form in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill. While the Group 1 winner hasn’t been racing poorly – he was beaten 1-1/2 lengths...
Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara aims for filly with Spicy future
Spicy Martini looks to be a filly with a bright future after winning the Mode Stakes at Doomben and maintaining a perfect record in her two starts to-date. The listed feature over 1200-metres rounded out her Queensland Summer Carnival campaign and co-trainer Toby Edmonds is now looking to the wintertime and the Group...
Tulloch Lodge assembling team for Magic Millions 2025
With the Magic Millions carnival less than six weeks away, Tulloch Lodge duo Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are beginning to tighten the strings on their Gold Coast squad. While they lost early fancy and Breeders’ Plate victor King Kirk in a tragic drowning accident at Randwick this week, the pair are still...
Attrition in line for G1 Northerly Stakes honours
Ballarat trainer Mitchell Freedman has headed to Perth to put the finishing touches on Attrition ahead of a Group 1 assault at Ascot. Attrition is set to run in the Northerly Stakes (1800m) on Saturday, his first run since finishing fourth in the Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on November 9. Freedman made the...
Michael Lane’s mare too bossy in Jungle Dawn, further riches await
The Boss Lady won’t progress to the Starstruck Classic (1600m) in a fortnight, but her Ascot Pinnacles campaign is not done with just yet. Trainer Michael Lane has some thinking to do, but gave a hint of what may be on offer after the quality mare gave another reminder of her talent...
Golden Mile to return to racing
Golden Mile will return to work as a gelding after one injury-interrupted season at stud. Just days before last year’s Caulfield Guineas winner Griff is put up for sale on Inglis Digital, the horse who precedes him on one of the most famed honour rolls in Australian racing has been announced as...
Mick Price circles the Ballarat Cup with Globe
Mick Price is keen to try and get Globe one more feature win before setting his sights on 2025 with the untapped gelding. The six-year-old son of Charm Spirit is part of a bumper set of 39 entries for this Saturday’s Ballarat Cup. Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, sees...
