Lucarno gallops opposition into submission
Thursday 10th July, 2008
Lucarno back to his best - picture by Steve Cargill
A PERFECT front-running ride from Jimmy Fortune saw Lucarno turn the tables on Papal Bull and land the Group Two Princess of Wales’s WBX.com Stakes.
Fortune jumped last year’s fourth straight into the lead in the 12 furlong contest before slowing the pace around the half-way point.
He then allowed the imposing galloper to lengthen approaching the dip catching his rivals flat footed to record a one-and-a-quarter length victory over 2-1 favourite Papal Bull with 25-1 outsider Petara Bay a further one-and-three-quarter lengths back in third.
Winning trainer John Gosden is targeting an autumn campaign with last year’s St. Leger winner with a tilt at the Arc and Japan Cup mentioned.
He said: “That was a great effort with a five pound penalty. He’s done well over the winter and he just needs racing at the moment.
“He will improve a bit for that but he’s still coming back to himself. It was always the plan to race in the second half of the year that‘s why he wasn‘t out until May.”
By Peter Scargill