Kheir buys into NZ Oaks favourite

[Wandering Eyes]

Prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir is looking to repeat history in this weekend’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa, after buying into the $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) favourite Leica Lucy on Monday.

Last year Kheir purchased into Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Molly Bloom in the week of the Fillies’ Classic, and she gave him a near instant return on his investment when winning the Te Rapa feature.

Kheir is hoping he can do the same with Leica Lucy on Saturday, having struck a deal with her owners, Heather and Peter Crofskey, who will remain in the ownership of their homebred.

The three-year-old daughter of Derryn has been a standout for the couple, winning three of her four starts for trainer Robbie Patterson, including the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), both at Trentham.

The Upper Hutt venue will be the home of her final two starts for the Taranaki horseman next month before she heads across the Tasman to join Molly Bloom at Chris Waller’s Sydney barn.

“Ozzie Kheir has joined up with the Crofskeys. I have got her for her next three runs, and she will be transferred to Chris Waller,” Patterson said.

“It is good that Ozzie has got the confidence in me to train her. She is a fantastic filly, and she will be good wherever she ends up.”

Patterson has been rapt with Leica Lucy’s career trajectory to date and believes the best has yet to be seen from her, with distance set to be her biggest ally.

“She is only going to get better too. The further she steps up, the better she should get,” he said.

“I am really excited about Saturday at Te Rapa and then the Lowland and Oaks. We will just take one race at a time, but there is a lot to look forward to.”

The New Zealand Oaks’ $1 million purse has been a big lure for Leica Lucy to remain in New Zealand, and Patterson foresees it being an ongoing trend with New Zealand’s burgeoning prizemoney.

“It (Oaks prizemoney) is a great carrot, that is obviously why she stayed here instead of going straight to Aussie,” he said. “New Zealand racing is on the up and the Australians are noticing and are starting to take advantage of it.”

Leica Lucy could be joined on the float trip north to Te Rapa this weekend by stablemate One Bold Cat, however, Patterson said his presence will be weather dependent and is looking unlikely at this stage with the fine weather forecast.

“He is in the Herbie (Gr.1, 2000m), but if the track gets too firm for him, he won’t be going,” Patterson said. “It will be dictated by the weather, but it looks fine at the moment.

“There are some pretty classy horses there. It is probably one of the toughest Group Ones I have ever seen in New Zealand.”

Meanwhile, Patterson’s Group One winner Puntura has been retired.

Bred and raced by Taranaki couple Carole and John Lynskey, Puntura won 11 of his 41 starts, including last year’s Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), which earned him an invitation to compete in the A$3.75 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield.

His other notable victories included the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) and Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).

He failed to find form this season, with his fourth placing in the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) being the highlight of his preparation. He sustained a slight tendon strain following his run in last month’s Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), which brought down the curtain on a pleasing career.

“He has done a great job,” Patterson said. “He didn’t come up as well as he did last year. He deserves a good retirement. He has gone to our vet, Rebecca McKenzie, and she will look after him well.”

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