By David Nagel
Stick with Lulu Darling.
That’s the advice of Pakenham trainer Michael Huglin after his five-year-old mare took out the $37,500 BenchMark-58 Handicap (1400m) on her home track on Friday.
Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, Lulu Darling was given a perfect run throughout before peeling out in the straight and surging clear for a soft two-length victory.
Huglin said the addition of blinkers has given the mare more focus.
“She’s obviously got her fair share of ability, and with the blinkers she’s a lot more switched on,” Huglin said.
“She was sharp today, even though she had the right run she still kicked and was strong through the line.
“She’ll be winning again, which is great for good owners and good people.”
With the synthetic season at Pakenham now complete, Huglin is assessing his options.
“She’s had a long preparation, she had a couple of weeks off at the farm after her run at Moe, where she was going too fierce,” he said.
“We’ve done a good job to get her back relaxed, and now she’s had three runs back in, and she won like that, you don’t like tipping them out when they win that way.
“We’ll see what Adelaide’s like, it’s a bit drier over there, but if not, she might be back at the farm for a few weeks, use the facilities we’ve got, and then back into the summer because she’s a pretty good Moonee Valley night horse.
“She’s got a pretty low rating, so there’s plenty more wins for her in store.
“We’ve been a little bit quiet the last couple of months but we’ve got a lot of nice horses coming up, so it’s good to get a bit of a stocking filler in the meantime.”
Pakenham trainer Reece Goodwin finished off a great day for locals when his five-year-old gelding Jolting continued his great form by winning the BenchMark-64 Handicap (1600m)
The five-year-old gelding – Shocking/Pirinitete – has now won three on the trot from just four starts for the Goodwin stable.
Jockey Jack Hill praised Goodwin after the race.
“He had really good form before he left the Paul Preusker camp, but he’s come to Reece at Pakenham and Reece has got him going really good,” Hill said.
“To go from a (BenchMark) 58 to 64, and up a furlong from his last two starts, and he powered away to the line again, he’s in good shape, he’s in good order…Reece is doing a great job with him.
“He’s racing pattern is back, that’s where he’s comfortable, and he’s got that real electric turn of foot for a furlong and he can hold it for another furlong.
“I think around the Valley, mile, even 2000, where they skip along, you can just ride him for luck because of that electric turn of foot late.”
Goodwin only has a small team, but is a trainer on the rise!
