Racing royalty combines for memorable success

[Wandering Eyes]

Members from two of Australasia’s most famous racing families with winning ties to the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) joined forces for a memorable victory at Hawera.

The Jaimee-Lee Lupton-prepared Lostcause (NZ) (Sweynesse) was successful in Sunday’s BHL Feeds ‘Copper Weave’ Maiden (1400m) with the trainer sharing the strapping duties with Stevie Payne.

The Waverley-based Lupton is the grand-daughter of the late Snow Lupton, who co-owned and trained Kiwi (NZ) (Blarney Kiss) to claim a breath-taking win in the 1983 Melbourne Cup, while Payne strapped 2015 Flemington hero Prince Of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire).

The son of Pentire made history when he triumphed under Payne’s sister Michelle, the first female jockey to lift the Cup.

Family patriarch Pat (Paddy), a Group One-winning trainer, grew up in Hawera before the family relocated in the early 1980s to Victoria where Michelle and Stevie were born.

“I went and stayed with Pat and Stevie a few years ago now when I was working for Kevin Myers and he took eight horses to Australia,” Jaimee-Lee Lupton said.

“We stayed for a month or so and I had an outstanding time there, they are wonderful people and welcomed us into their home. I had a great time.”

Lupton was delighted to catch up with the family and to celebrate a royal result with Lostcause.

“It was lovely to see them on Sunday and have Stevie strapping. He was the golden ticket and brought some luck to the horse,” she said.

“Stevie and his Dad and his sister Therese came to Hawera to catch up with some relatives and Kevin Myers so it was really nice.

“I was really thrilled and Stevie helped to saddle her up. He was really keen to help to lead her and he was so chuffed when she won.”

A daughter of Sweynesse, Lostcause was originally purchased out of Te Keeti Bloodstock’s draft at Karaka by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo for $11,000. She was resuming at Hawera after weighing in from both of her starts last summer.

“She’s a nice filly that has taken a bit of time, but she’s got enough ability. She’s been immature and was weak last time in,” Lupton said.

“She was doing everything right and galloping well, she just couldn’t round it off and has improved.”

Lostcause drew attention to her prospects when she finished runner-up at the Waverley trials earlier this month behind One Bold Cat, who subsequently made a winning debut at Wanganui for trainer Robbie Patterson.

“We have been pretty happy with her and Johnathan rode her at the trials and he won on the horse that beat her so there was the form there,” Lupton said.

“She will have another couple of starts and then a let-up, she’s probably still six months away.”

Lostcause carried the colours made famous by Kiwi, as did the Jaimee-Lee Lupton-trained Soleseifei (NZ) (Shocking) when she won the 2020 Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), 37 years after Kiwi had won the Trentham feature.

Meanwhile, Lostcause’s Group-performed stablemate Raced Evens (Zoffany) is close to opening her winter campaign following a 1000m trial success at Waverley.

“She was really good at the trials and went super. She’s not too far away from racing and we’re excited about the winter with her,” Lupton said.

“We will follow the same path as last year. She’s a bit stronger this time in and was running places in decent races and probably due to weakness that she didn’t round it off so we’ll be looking for black type with her.”

The winner of four of her 13 starts, Raced Evens hasn’t been seen out since the Zoffany five-year-old finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in early October.

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