Lord Kingsley has bounced back from an agonising loss at Rosehill to give trainer Lauri Wray a moment to savour at the same track a fortnight later.
The four-year-old gelding flashed home late to claim the Boohoo.com Handicap (2000m) and provide Warwick Farm-based Wray with her first Saturday metropolitan winner.
Wray thought she had achieved that accolade on November 4 until a photo-finish revealed Carzoff had denied Lord Kingsley by a nose over 1800-metres.
The former jockey, who took out her trainers licence in 2013-14, was understandably relieved when Lord Kingsley beat UK import Imperial Aviator ($21) by a neck.
Carzoff ($6.50) was a quarter of a length third.
“We had a few photo-finishes on a Saturday so it was good to get the job done,” Wray said.
Lord Kingsley ($9) has now won three times this preparation following victories at Kembla Grange in September and October.
Wray, who has 10 in work, attributed Lord Kingsley’s purple patch to maturity.
“I’ve had him since he was a baby, he just needed to grow up mentally,” Wray said.
She was unfazed when Lead Choreographer led by five lengths turning into the home straight before fading.
“I thought they were going to run along. I’m happy with the speed on because I know he’s got a great finish,” Wray said.
Jockey Tim Clark lost his whip at the furlong but fortunately he didn’t need it to boot Lord Kingsley to the line.
“It was probably the last thing I wanted to happen on this bloke,” Clark said.
“He takes a bit of encouragement, but he lifted for me, he really did knuckle down late.”
