Luminous Shines in Taupo Winning Quartet

As he did with Shezathinka on Wednesday at Matamata, Jamie Richards trained first race winner Luminous (3 f Reliable Man - Keenly, by Keeninsky), the white horse, who took out the $10,000 Total Transport Taupo Maiden 1800 metres on Friday at Taupo.

But the similarities did not end there, as both mares had been stakes placed in their three-year-old seasons. Rated 74, Shezathinka gained her status due largely to a terrific performance for second in the Lowland Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m), while Luminous, with a 75 rating, had displayed tremendous potential through her first campaign with two seconds, and a third in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), from three starts.   

Luminous had resumed with a big run from last to finish second in the Maiden 1300 metres on 21 August at Taupo, and the $1.40 win price suggested her victory was a foregone conclusion and almost inevitable.

“She appreciated a good track and extra distance and very deserving of a win,” said Te Akau racing manager Libby Richards. “She had a really good three-year-old season and a very highly rated Maiden before today and it's nice to see her get a win on the board.”

Ridden by Opie Bosson, Luminous took a position off the pace in ninth, standing the leader six lengths at the 600m, but she made a quick move on straightening to lead at the 200m and proved too smart in the finish. 

“She got back a little bit but relaxed beautifully and I got a nice track into the race,” Bosson said. “The extra distance suited her today and it was right up her alley. She flattened out nicely and actually gave me a really nice feel. She's a very nice staying type of filly, and 2000 metres plus.”

Purchased by David Ellis for $180,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Diamond Lodge, owned by the Te Akau Flawless Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Luminous is from the talented race mare Keenly (Keeninsky), winner of three races up to 2200 metres.

She has a high-quality depth of stallions on her dam side, with second dam Marlena being by Champion sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram), who in turn is from Success Express mare Vargas Diamond. Success Express is also the dam sire of Champion stallion Savabeel.

“It was great for Luminous to get the win after being stakes' placed last season,” Ellis said. “She's a filly we've been patient with. She's kept developing and the owners should reap those rewards this season, because I think she could win a really nice race.

“I've got my wife Karyn to thank for buying this horse. She encouraged me to buy her and the filly having finished third in Group Two Royal Stakes has already added considerably to her value. She's a filly that just keeps improving with time.”

“And, it's a great way to start a busy weekend,” he added. 

Trainer Jamie Richards said: “It was a nice win and she's doing everything right. It was a lovely ride from Opie and shows he's back in good touch. She doesn't have a lot of pace from the barrier, but Opie was able to build momentum down the hill, which is important at Taupo, and she won like a filly that could get through the grades. 

“It will be a big step up for her, given the ratings, but we've just got to play with the cards we've been dealt. She's certainly a nice staying mare for the season ahead.”

Luminous was strapped by Anna Jones.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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