By Glenn Davis
Luck finally turned in trainer Barry Lockwood’s favour when Susurri was successful at Doomben on Saturday.
Lockwood recently lost talented stablemate Show Us Ya Diamonds with a minor leg injury which put her out of next week’s William Inglis Sprint at Warwick Farm.
However, Susurri put the smile back on Lockwood’s face when she ploughed through the heavy conditions to down Johnny Whitesox by 1-3/4 lengths in the Civforce Pipelaying QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1350m).
Dream Kisses finished third, a further short head away.
Susurri had been a model of consistency going into the race following three placings from her previous four starts.
A bargain buy at only $11,000 at the Magic Millions March sales at the Gold Coast, Susurri took her earnings to $103,500 with her second win from only eight starts.
Lockwood has a good opinion of the daughter of Von Costa De Hero and believes she’s earned a winter carnival tilt.
"At least we know she can handle a wet track but I’ll see how she pulls up,” Lockwood said.
“There’s a race next week for her or she could have a break and get ready for the winter.”
The major disappointment came from topweight Rancho Montoya who floundered in the conditions to finish last, 18 lengths from Susurri.
Trainer Stu Kendrick was relieved Rancho Montoya pulled up unharmed following the race.
“In hindsight we should have stayed at home rather than run on a heavy track,” Kendrick said.
“But at least he’s pulled up well.
“I won’t make a decision right now about going south with him and I’ll wait until he has another run here.”
Kendrick has a big opinion of Rancho Montoya who he hopes will develop into a strong stayer to target the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in April.
Stablemate Fullazaboot is heading to Sydney for the Group 2 Skyline Stakes which will decide if he heads to the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill or targets the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes and Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick in the autumn.
Fullazaboot was runner-up to boom Adelaide filly Sunlight in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast last month.
Racing Queensland webnews February 3