After her luckless run in the Blue Diamond Stakes Loving Gaby will now have some of Sydney’s top juvenile races as her targets.
Sent off as equal favourite for Victoria’s premier two-year-old race, the daughter of I Am Invincible ran a huge race to finish sixth after finding no luck when trying to cut through the field late on. Jockey Damian Lane said in the aftermath.
“She’s run super; she’s just had no luck at all. We tried to go through a few gaps, but they were closed very quickly. Despite everything she’s hit the line really well which she had no right to do in the circumstances.”
The filly owned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds is enjoying a few easy days including some light work on the beach as she recovers from the race, something which is going to plan according to co-head trainer David Eustace.
“She’s come through the race really well,” Eustace told Racing.com “Physically she doesn’t look tucked up or tight from the run, she’s got a really good constitution.”
Despite not the result they were hoping for connections are confident that she remains a filly with massive potential, a sentiment echoed by Eustace on Monday morning.
“She didn’t have a lot of luck; she was a bit green, gaps came and then closed, she got a bump here and there so all in all we thought she certainly showed that she’s well up to the task.”
Phoenix Thoroughbreds CEO Amer Abdulaziz was in Melbourne to watch the two-year-old take her chance at Group One level on Saturday and was even on hand to cast his eye over her on Monday morning. He is also dreaming big suggesting a trip to Royal Ascot might be on the cards this season but before that targets closer to home are being considered as her co-head trainer confirmed.
“Sydney will definitely be the plan, and hopefully we’re looking towards the Slipper and then maybe the Sires after that.”
The Golden Slipper will take place on March 23rd at Rosehill Gardens where all involved in Loving Gaby will be hoping for much better luck.