Generational freak wins $130,000 Group 1

Ladies In Red’s reputation as a generational freak was further ensconced with a stunning, fighting victory in Friday night’s Vicbred Super Series final.

The Emma Stewart-trained Mach Three three-year-old improved her record to 17 wins and three seconds from 20 outings and powered past full-brother Our Little General’s Australian stakes watermark of $522,000 with another extraordinary, fighting performance.

The Stewart team continued their domination of the three-year-old fillies’ class with the first four home and, while second-placed Rogue Wave presented a late challenge, Ladies In Red again had all the answers for reinsman David Moran.

“She never seems to disappoint in the finals,” Moran said.

“She’s just an amazing horse, the things she does and how she does it. She’s one of a kind that’s for sure.”

Ladies In Red again showed those attributes tonight, having to overcome a back row draw to eventually sidle up and sit outside highly rated Joanna.

And just when she’d seen off the challenge of that stablemate at the final turn she had to dig and find again to hold at bay a swooping Rogue Wave, but despite doing plenty of work she had all the answers and won by 1.5 metres off a 54.2-second last half.

“It’s a huge privilege (to drive her),” Moran said. “I don’t think you quite understand it or respect it enough early in horses careers. It’s when they start to get on and do more and more amazing things you realise you’ve been a part of a very special time in a very special horse’s career.

“I don’t get too perturbed about a lot of things, but you drive some of these horses and I’m very chuffed to have the opportunity, let alone be the one who’s stuck with her through her career.”

The emotion was shared by her owner-breeders Anne and Bill Anderson of Lauriston Bloodstock, who were trackside to savour the win.

“When you breed them, and she was around the farm for probably a good 13 or 14 months – personality plus – it’s a great reward,” Bill Anderson said.

“People ask us all the time, can I have a photo taken with her – people really want to be included. We need a profile horse in this industry and I think, hopefully, she’s the one to do it.”

He said she’d likely now be prepared for an assault on Sydney’s Ladyship Mile or Chariots Of Fire.

From HRV