Damien Oliver has been offered the ride on Lucia Valentina if the mare is invited to compete in Hong Kong’s International race day in December.
The top Melbourne jockey partnered Lucia Valentina to victory in the Matriarch Stakes at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival, her first win since the 2014 Turnbull Stakes.
Lucia Valentina
Kris Lees confirmed he was keen to run the five-year-old in the Hong Kong Cup, which hasn’t been won by an Australian-trained horse since Oliver partnered State Taj to victory 21 years ago.
“We’ll wait and see what they say but we’d definitely go at this stage,” Lees said.
“Damien has been offered the ride.”
Lees said Lucia Valentina had come through her Flemington win in good order and had already returned to Newcastle.
She is one of 14 Australian horses nominated for the Hong Kong Cup along with Melbourne Cup placegetter Criterion.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club will announce its overseas invitees on November 25 with the International Races to be held at Sha Tin on December 13.
