Group 1 plans and a stud career beckon for Lucky Street, an outstanding winner of today’s $500,000 Amelia Park Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at Ascot.
The red-hot $1.50 favourite scored one of the most emphatic Karrakatta Plate victories in the modern era, leading all the way to blitz his rivals by 4 ½ lengths.
Champion jockey Paul Harvey, who broke through for his first win in the Group 2 feature, sent Lucky Street straight to the lead from barrier three.
Lucky Street burst clear when Harvey let him go at the top of the straight, putting the result beyond doubt.
Mystic Maid ($20) ran into second and Showy Chloe ($21) rocketed home from near last, snatching third from Senso.
“I’m just very relieved,” trainer Trevor Andrews said.
“It’s been a stressful week to make sure everything was right and there were no issues.
“He’s just a super little colt – a great racehorse with a great motor.
“From that gate Paul was looking to sit but the horse inside him wouldn’t kick up so he found the front.”
Andrews announced big plans for Lucky Street, with the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in November his goal.
The son of Oratorio could also attract interest as a potential stallion.
“He’ll definitely go to the paddock. I won’t go to the Sires,” Andrews said.
“I don’t want to take the sprint out of him.
“I’d love to run him in the Winterbottom at the end of the year.
“At weight-for-age, he’ll have 52 kilos on his back.
“Hopefully if we can get a Group 1 next to his name, we can stand him at stud.”
Lucky Street broke a 17-year hoodoo, becoming the first winner of the Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic-Karrakatta Plate double.
Part-owner Ken Gregson said: “Trevor’s been of the view that it’s almost impossible to win the Magic Millions and Karrakatta, but once he got to work on this horse he knew he was at that level”.
Andrews added a second Karrakatta Plate to his trophy cabinet following his success with Luke’s Luck in 2012.
It was a day to remember for the Ascot trainer, with his three-year-old colt Boom Time landing an upset win in the $100,000 Schweppes Melvista Stakes (2200m).
Boom Time ($13) ran on from third on the turn to beat Say Geronimo ($6.50) by 1 ¾ lengths for jockey Shaun McGruddy. Quite Regal ran third.
Tonto, the $2.60 favourite, ran on late for fourth and Battle Hero ($3.60) ran a disappointing eighth. He over-raced early and was momentarily held-up behind the tiring leader, Fathing Fast, at the top of the straight.
Andrews said Boom Time, who broke through for his first win at his 13th start, will tackle the $500,000 Schweppes WATC Derby (2400m) in a fortnight.
“He’s a really tough horse and he obviously stays very well,” Andrews said.
“They didn’t go that hard and he was three-deep the trip.
“Coming to the corner he quickened up real well. It looks like the further, the better.”
