EXCITING front-runner Luvoir will chase a city hat-trick at Royal Randwick on Saturday – without his regular jockey.
Hawkesbury co-trainers Jason Attard and Lucy Keegan-Attard thought long and hard before deciding to break up the partnership between their gelding and champion apprentice Zac Lloyd.
Instead of tackling the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1600m), where Lloyd could have ridden Luvoir against only six rivals, the couple opted to give the gelding his chance to earn black type in the shorter Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m).
Even with the early withdrawals of Kinloch and Essonne (both racing at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, 13 horses remain in the Carrington.
Lloyd has a 50 per cent strike rate on Luvoir, riding him to victory four times from eight starts, including his latest dashing wins, firstly when resuming after a break over 1200m at Warwick Farm on December 6 and then 24 days later over the Carrington course at Randwick.
Both were Benchmark 78 Handicaps, and the rise in class sees Luvoir tumble to the 53kg minimum; 5.5kg less than his last start.
Lloyd was unavailable to continue his association with the seven-year-old in the Carrington, having already been booked for Zou Tiger.
Tyler Schiller will now ride Luvoir, who hasn’t started since his thrilling performance at the end of last month when he tore out with a big lead before the home turn, and wasn’t caught.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to forsake Zac staying on the horse, but there were a couple of factors which influenced us to go for the shorter race,” Jason Attard explained today.
“Luvoir hasn’t raced for a month as there weren’t really any suitable races to run him in.
“As a result we were concerned he might be a bit fresh to run out a strong 1600m.
“The hot weather around also had us worried about going to the ‘mile’ with him.
“We realise it’s a bold step going to Listed company, but the horse gives his all and we know he will give another great sight.”
Team Attard also is delighted that Luvoir’s new jockey has already gained valuable experience on the gelding.
“Tyler has kindly been out to Hawkesbury to get the feel of Luvoir in trackwork,” Jason Attard said.
“He is a quirky horse, but reacted well to Tyler, so that’s a positive leading into Saturday’s race.”
Story John Curtis, January 25, 2023 - Pics Bradley Photos