Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man) has already surprised her trainer once this campaign and Joe Pride is hoping she can take that to a whole new level by bowing out of racing as a Group One winner.
The six-year-old will be auctioned as a breeding prospect at the upcoming Chairman’s Sale and Saturday’s Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick will be her final start for the stable.
As the winner of 10 of her 36 starts, the grey mare has been a wonderful campaigner but even Pride was shocked to see her take out the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) on a heavy track last start, given she had previously shown an aversion to wet conditions.
“It was weird. I’m not sure what to put that down to, but she was good,” Pride said.
“She is an older mare who felt like running really well, I think, and normally when she hits form she holds it.”
Pride says Lekvarte will need to do that and more if she is to compete against the likes of top mare Fangirl, Doncaster Mile winner Stefi Magnetica and proven performers Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) and Amelia’s Jewel on Saturday.
“It’s another level up for her to go into a Group One race but she has been in a couple before and always run well and she loves the Randwick mile,” Pride said.
“She has won three or four times over the Randwick mile, including some black-type races.”
Lekvarte’s three wins over the course and distance include a brace of Group 2 victories in the Angst Stakes and Aspiration Quality, both last year.
Stablemate Sounds Of Heaven will also line up and Pride says she is capable of improving on her last start second in the Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill.
“We haven’t seen the best of her yet,” he said.
“She has to step up in grade again but she is pretty capable. She is a nice mare and she will run well.”
