Trainer Enver Jusufovic is not one to push his horses early and the benefits of that are starting to be seen in New York Lustre.
About to turn six, New York Lustre will be lining up for her tenth start on Saturday when she runs in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield with Jamie Melham aboard.
New York Lustre has five wins to her credit, a far cry from when the mare had her first start as a four-year-old in December 2023 at Stony Creek.
“I think sometimes we can judge these horses too early,” Jusufovic said.
“I can honestly say that what she showed me early I wouldn’t have thought she would reach these heights.
“I think we can stereotype them too early and then move them on too early.
“It’s a real credit to Mike Howard, the owner and breeder, who has got the patience and between him, me and Sarah Berry, his farm manager, we’ve got a good formula.
“She’s only lightly raced and after three starts, or so, we plan her future, and she goes back to the farm for a week or so and does a bit of pre-training before coming back, and she’s thriving off that.”
New York Lustre will be lining up for her second run in Stakes company having finished second to In Flight in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 12.
Jusufovic had sent the mare to Adelaide for the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville in May, but a barrier mishap saw her withdrawn.
New York Lustre had a week in the paddock after that then did some pre-training before returning to Jusufovic’s care.
However, the trainer ran out of time to have New York Lustre fully screwed down for her first-up assignment but is pleased with how she has come on since.
“I understand at this time of year, every second week the jump-outs are on the Poly at Cranbourne,” Jusufovic said.
“She wasn’t quite ready to jump-out on the grass but she was ready when they were on the Poly, however I’m not a big rap for the Poly, because there can be ramifications afterwards with their body on that really firm track when they’re not used to it.
“So, she had a gallop on the grass instead, albeit it was probably a heavy 12 that day.
“She galloped OK, but Jamie and I were of the opinion that she was quite underdone, but the next morning she had pulled up so well from it, and for that reason I opted to run her.
“We drew favourably but we were beaten by a better horse on the day, a very race fit one as well.”
That run and another gallop at Cranbourne on Tuesday has brought New York Lustre to near her top and both Melham and Jusufovic say she is ready to run a big race on Saturday.
With mares racing on later in life, think Bella Nipotina who won The Everest this season as a seven-year-old, Jusufovic believes there is still further improvement to come from New York Lustre.
It is for that reason New York Lustre’s retirement to the breeding barn may be delayed.
“Initially I think she was going to go to the breeding barn because she got some Black Type,” Jusufovic said.
“Because she’s lightly raced, Jamie’s of the opinion there is more upside, and I believe there’s more in store to.
“I believe Mike is coming around to that way of thinking, but It really depends on what she does on Saturday as to what happens next.”
