Greg Eurell may have a smart two-year-old in his hands in the form of Lucky Brook, who won the Sportsbet Race Previews Handicap (1000m) to open the card at Caulfield on Saturday.
By Lucky Vega, the debutant had won four jump outs and converted that winning attitude to race day, running out a one-length winner under Lachlan Neindorf.
Neindorf was happy to keep Lucky Brook, who jumped the $4.20 favourite according to leading Aussie betting sites, out of trouble from a wide gate, scoring over Egyptian Dancer ($16) with a short neck back to Aston ($7) in third.
Eurell said there were plenty of options for Lucky Brook in the early part of the Spring, with the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) for early three-year-olds firmly on the card.
“The plan was always to try and win a race and then sort of set her up for the spring, and there wasn’t much to offer, so to win a city race was even better,” Eurell said.
“It gives us a chance to give her a bit of a let up, map something out going forward. It certainly gives us a lot of confidence going forward.
“The spring can sort of stretch out a little bit now, so you’ve sort of got to be a little bit careful— sort of where you start and where you think you want to end up but she may be back here (for the Quezette).”
“I think she’ll cut the mustard. I think she’s very genuine, she’s obviously above average.”
The Quezette Stakes is scheduled for August 15 at Caulfield and has been won by subsequent Group 1-winning sprinters Charm Stone, Bella Nipotina and Sunlight in recent years.
While those heights are a way off for Lucky Brook, Eurell believes she has the attributes to keep raising the bar, and possibly extend in distance as she matures.
“I like her attitude, everything we’ve done with her. She’s just so professional. I think she’s going to be a lovely filly going forward,” Eurell said.
“Once we sort of get a bit deeper into the prep, she’ll suggest what she’s going to do.
“But she does relax and travel. She might give herself that opportunity to sort of stretch out to a mile, however, at the moment, if she does what she does over the shorter trips we’ll be happy.”
