The Stephen Marsh stable continued their white hot form of late with two-year-old filly Lubeck (Hanseatic) giving her rivals a galloping lesson as she dominated proceedings from the front when winning the Cambridge Raceway 2YO (1200m) at Te Rapa.
The filly by former smart Australian juvenile Hanseatic jumped well from a mid-field barrier for apprentice Rihaan Goyaram after being a little hesitant to load away and worked to the front after 300m.
Goyaram set up a steady pace on the filly before asking her to quicken rounding the home bend where she quickly slipped three lengths clear with 300m to run.
Chased hard by another debutant in Panther (NZ) (Ace High) alongside race favourite The Espy (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), Lubeck found a superior kick and cruised to the line to win by two and a half lengths to get her career off to a winning start.
“She’s quite a classy little two-year-old who had two very nice trials, so we expected quite a lot of her,” said stable representative Ashley Tompkinson.
“She is quite a sweet filly with a big heart and she is a favourite of the stable.”
Goyaram was also pleased with the win after taking the initiative on her from the start.
“She is a very nice filly and had showed up with some nice trials on the synthetic track at home,” he said.
“Today with a good draw and my claim (3kgs) off her back I thought I would be positive and lead if I could.
We got there pretty easily and she ran some good sectionals and didn’t give up in the run home.
“I’m very thankful to Mr Marsh and the connections for putting me on a very nice horse.”
Out of the four-race winner What A Smasher (NZ), Lubeck was a $60,000 purchase by Jim Bruford under his Brewers Bloodstock banner from the Kilgravin Lodge Book 1 draft at Karaka in 2024. She comes from an extended family that includes useful Hong Kong sprinter Tuscan Spirit (NZ) (Chianti) and stakes performers Keepelo (NZ) (Keeper), To Be Fair (Kaaptive Edition) and Cullemour (NZ) (Cullen). –
