LUVOIR had a few issues, including getting on a float, when he arrived at Jason Attard and Lucy Keegan-Attard’s Grose Vale property.
Now he doesn’t like horses getting past him.
An exciting front-runner, the seven-year-old’s gelding’s Royal Randwick victory at $21 yesterday was his fourth for Team Attard – and all have been in town, and achieved in the same manner.
Thanks to the Attard’s connection with Meredith Park’s Susie Woodcock, Luvoir was transferred from a city stable last year to them in the hope that a change of environment would suit the gelding.
Undoubtedly it has, and the Deep Field gelding has never been in better form.
The Hawkesbury husband and wife training partnership has done a splendid job with Luvoir, who is now unbeaten from two starts since returning from a short break.
“When he won his first race for us in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick in March, the plan wasn’t to go to the front,” co-trainer Jason Attard said today.
“But that’s the way he likes to race, and the way Zac Lloyd likes to ride him.
“They get on so well together.
“He has ridden him eight times for four wins, two seconds and two fourths.”
After scoring over 1200m midweek at Warwick Farm on December 6 at $51 from Testator Silens, Luvoir was at $21 yesterday when he beat the same horse in a Saturday Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).
He tore out with a lead of eight lengths at one stage and even course broadcaster Darren Flindell remarked: “Zac must have a New Year’s Eve party to get to, he’s off and gone on the home turn.”
Though understandably tiring at the end, Luvoir had enough in reserve to hold off Testator Silens ($4.60) and $2.25 favorite Step Aside.
“Luvoir is a happy horse, and he is very fresh at present,” Jason Attard said.
“He really enjoys life on the farm, and I ride him in his work and he’s become a mate.
“We didn’t get him until he was an older horse, and Lucy and myself have got to know him better.”
Luvoir provided Team Attard with its fifth winner of the season – and yesterday’s victory had a special attachment.
Jason Attard’s grandfather Joseph Malia is very ill, and he and his wife visited him in hospital this morning.
“Pop really enjoyed watching Luvoir in his races, so I’ll really cherish this win,” he said.
Before scoring on Luvoir, Sydney’s champion apprentice Zac Lloyd also delivered a win for Kembla Grange trainer Ross McConville.
He scored on Either Oar ($6.50) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) against her own sex.
The six-year-old Unencumbered mare has won five races and been placed 10 times from 30 starts for earnings of just over $335,000.
At Kembla Grange yesterday, father and son Rob and Luke Price and Joe Ible kept the local flag flying high.
The Price boys won the Midway Maiden Plate (1000m) with Monte Kate ($2.80) in an all-provincial finish, defeating Anthony Mountney’s $2.40 favorite Layin’ Four and Diane Poidevin Laine’s Anini ($26).
Ible landed the Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m) with Patrika Mist ($7.50).
Provincial trainers Damien Lane (Wyong), Brad Widdup (Hawkesbury) and Jason Deamer and Andrew MacDonald (Newcastle) shared in the spoils at Gosford’s New Year’s Eve meeting today.
Lane produced the unraced three-year-old Shalaa filly Dize ($8.50) to score on debut in the Midway 3YO Maiden Plate (8.50), and his apprentice Anna Roper later clinched a double, scoring on Gold Card ($4.20) in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).
Widdup and his new apprentice Zac Wadick teamed to get Treasurer ($8) back into winning form in the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1100m), at his first start since early March.
In another all-provincial finish, Treasurer finished best to beat another Hawkesbury pair, Blake Ryan’s $1.80 favorite Lady Extreme, who was very brave after being forced to race wide, and Garry Frazer’s Our Lady Stardust ($8.50).
Deamer’s Jack Duggan ($4.80) outstayed his rivals to take the Lord Mayor’s Cup (a 1900m Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap), whilst MacDonald made it two in a row at Gosford with $26 outsider of the field Recap in the F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).
Story John Curtis, December 31, 2023 - Pics Bradley Photos
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