By Neil Evans
An overdue run of clear weather can pave the way for a talented albeit wayward mare to return to her very best at Thursday’s Gosford meeting.
Like Lukey, a gifted four-year-old daughter of 2009 Group 1 Golden Rose winner Denman in the Kris Lees stable at Newcastle, hasn’t won since capping an ultra-exciting campaign late last year with a third successive win.
Ben Osmond will ride Like Lukey on Thursday.Credit: Getty Images
A frustrating and interrupted first half of 2024 eventually gave way to a very exciting galloper early last November.
She opened her account by coming from near last to win a Maiden at Scone over a mile by more than four lengths before setting closer but still easily winning a BM 58 at Muswellbrook, despite not being overly suited on soft ground.
Like Lukey then produced another dominant display in BM 64 company at Hawkesbury over 1800m just two weeks before Xmas, charging home from the trail to win by nearly two lengths.
She then missed narrowly zooming home again in deeper grade at Port Macquarie (2000m) before a tilt at metropolitan opposition all went wrong after a tough run in BM 72 grade back over 1800m on the Kensington track.
Given a lengthy spell, Like Lukey returned with a serious eye-catching run, flashing home from well back to miss by under a length in a strong Country Cup renewal on Scone Cup day five weeks ago.
Again she tackled deeper city company, but didn’t fire a shot in unsuitable heavy going behind in-form Mickey’s Medal.
But the constant rain over the past month has seemingly met its match with clear and drying weather, and Like Lukey looks ideally placed when she tackles a BM 64 Hcp for fillies and mares over 1600m on what should be a Soft 5 rating.
Two of her three career wins from 12 starts have come on firm ground, while the other was on soft, and with apprentice Benjamin Osmond offsetting the big weight with a 2kg claim, Like Lukey is primed to recapture her best.
Standing in her way though is a tough and progressive filly from the Nathan Doyle yard at Newcastle.
Aroha Stone, by El Roca, missed by a nose third-up in a handy Class 1 at Kembla 16 days ago.
She draws the inside, and emerges as the best weighted runner in the race with apprentice Shannen Llewellyn claiming 3kg to carry only a half kilo over the minimum.
