The sky’s the limit for Saturday’s runaway Placid Ark Prelude (1100m) winner Luana Miss.
The Trevor Andrews-trained filly chimed in from the back-half of the field to score running away in a tip-top dress rehearsal for the LR Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 15. The $500,000 3yo feature sprint winner also receives a ballot exemption into the G1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) worth $1.5 million on November 29.
Luana Miss tracked Yes Queen (Yes Yes Yes) in the three-wide line and then went wider on the corner before letting down to overwhelm on-pace gallopers Twisted Steel (Rommel) and Castle Road (Safeguard).
“She was unlucky first-up in the Max Simmons Classic and probably found the front a bit too soon today,” Andrews said. “There’s not much of her but size isn’t everything. She has a dynamic turn of foot and a huge engine. She races for a great bunch of owners and we’re looking forward to the Placid Ark Stakes.”
Luana Miss was bred by Darling View Thoroughbreds using Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) over Brisbane black-type mare Little Bit Ditsy (Bel Esprit). Darling View owner Clive Atwell had purchased her in foal to the Darley stallion for $160,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Little Bit Ditsy is a half-sister to Vienna Miss (LR Adelaide Guineas) and the dam of Gangbuster (LR Lex Piper Stakes) and Let It Slip (LR Placid Ark Stakes). Her Farnan filly was passed-in shy of a $150,000 reserve at this year’s Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale and she foaled a Playing God filly in September.
Luana Miss had won the LR Supremacy Stakes (1000m) at Ascot in March but that first campaign was compromised by hoof issues and stomach ulcers. “Touch wood we’re on top of that with our farrier Troy Greenwood,” Andrews revealed. “We’re also winning the battle with the ulcers and well may it continue.”
Winning jockey Shaun O’Donnell has been battling a run of outs this season and he has always rated Luana Miss highly despite a near-disastrous debut when she reared in the enclosure and forced him to bail out. “It’s been tough but it just takes the right horse to get back into winning form. She’s phenomenal and is up to the challenge in the Placid Ark.
“The barrier won’t matter that much because she will be ridden quietly which suits her. Then with a bit of luck she can come home with that powerhouse finish.”
