The Joseph Pride-trained Lekvarte (+320) has bolted back into the winners’ enclosure in stylish fashion, storming over the top to claim the Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The daughter of Reliable Man had produced three wins on the trot to kick-off the campaign before a minor let-up prior to the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) left her chasing a long way from home over an unsuitable trip.
Getting back to the 1600m was always going to be favourable, and thanks to a patience steer from Tommy Berry, Lekvarte was back to her scintillating best.
A pair of outsiders strolled to the lead, as Podium Queen (+8000) and Little Mix (+1800) cruised along to lead them up at a moderate tempo, with the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Osmose (+600) gaining the economical run of the race just in behind.
Rebel Rama (+8000) looked to cause a major upset when shooting up the inside running rail, while the likes of Premise (+5000) and Thalassophile (+500) were doing their best work late.
The leaders were all sitting ducks for Lekvarte in the end, who proved too strong for the girls, with Osmose running into a clear second, while Rebel Rama and Premise would be left fighting out the last spot in the minor money.
2024 Aspiration Quality Replay – Lekvarte
It was all about the five-year-old mare in the end, as she continues to build on an already glowing resume for the Joseph Pride camp.
“She raced through the summer but just had the three runs and I gave her a freshen up to come back and her run the other day was exceptional,” said Pride.
“The punters worked that out, she started favourite today but that was a good win.
“She really sprouted wings coming through the centre of them and that’s the way she’s racing now, as a five-year-old she’s really started to hit her straps as a racehorse. And who knows, they might want me to race her on for another 12 months yet.
“The way she’s going, she still seems to be improving which is not totally unusual in a horse her age, but I’m really happy with her.
“I contemplated, because her run was really good the other day, going to the Coolmore Classic next week but I don’t think we would have got a run in it.
“Who knows, we might be able to back up yet. But this looked the right race for her.”
Tommy Berry spoke to the instructions he received pre-race and was able to allow the mare clear air when necessary in the home straight.
“Joe (Pride) has always thought she’s a better horse getting to the outside, and she probably is,” said Berry.
“So Joe might have been saying a few other words, I reckon, coming to the 600m but his instructions were pretty simple today – just get her to the outside.
“But she just never steps away brilliantly and no matter how much I wake her up in the gates, she’s like, I’m not going anywhere yet, just wait til I’m ready.”
Lekvarte is listed as a +1600 chance in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) next Saturday at Rosehill.
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