Victorian stayer Lioness Lulu can continue her fine record in interstate races and cap owner-trainer Mark Giddings’ “fairy tale” year with victory in this afternoon’s Newcastle Cup (715m).
Lioness Lulu (pictured) - this year’s Group 1 Association Cup winner - jumps from box four in the $15,000-to-the-winner decider at Unibet Gardens aiming to seal her remarkable 2016 with another feature race title.
Lioness Lulu has returned from a two-month spell in fine fashion, scoring a placing over the 600m at the Meadows and winning her last start over the 660m at Bendigo on December 6.
She faces a tough field featuring most of NSW’s best current stayers, but Giddings believes his greyhound, who will take her prize money earnings above $150,000 with a win, is up to the task.
“Her record shows she travels fine,” Giddings said.
“She’s won three races at Wentworth Park, a heat of the Wagga Gold Cup and saluted at Cannington.
“I don’t know whether it’s the break from home or racing against different class of greyhounds but she doesn’t mind travelling. She also seems to enjoy racing more in the Summer months too.
“She’s possibly a little underdone for the 700 metres but the way she ran that 660m at Bendigo suggests she’s up to this distance. The Gardens is a tight track which suits her style of racing too.
“There’s four or five big chances in this race but she’s in with a shout.”
Apart from her Association Cup win, Lioness Lulu has also placed in the Group 1 Superstayers in her home state, was a runner-up in the Gold Cup at Wentworth Park and also won a heat of the Group 1 Sky Racing Galaxy in Western Australia before finishing sixth in the final.
Novice trainer Giddings bought Lioness Lulu for $2000 after she had been through four other trainers’ hands in her early career – and the pair have enjoyed a successful partnership.
“Everyone knows her storyline,” Giddings said.
“What’s she’s done has been incredible. For me to win a Group 1 race aged 22 was a bit of a fairy tale really. I couldn’t have asked for more from her.
“I thought she’d lost that early pace but she’s shown us she still wants to be out there racing. Depending on how she goes here, we’ll probably take her through the Summer and have a crack at Summer Distance Plate at Wentworth Park in January.”
Melissa’s Pride (box seven) shared last Saturday night’s Group 3 Summer Cup (720m) in a dead heat with Ring The Bell and looks the biggest danger to Lioness Lulu.
The Michelle Shambler-trained greyhound has won two of her last five starts and placed over this trip in August in a solid 42.08.
Miss Foxy Lee (box two), from the gun Dean Swain kennel, has mixed form recently but has 17 wins from 40 starts and is a class performer at her best.
Ebby Ripper (box one) is having a first look at Unibet Gardens but has won her last three starts, while newcomer Gunnadoo Cove (box five) placed in last Saturday night’s Group 3 Summer Cup and is racing well.
For Unibet Gardens Friday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
