Lakelsa a mare on the rise

The Regan Todd trained Lakelsa (Captaintreacherous) graduated into the harness racing big time tonight, when in just her fifteenth start she took out the $100,000 Group One Fahy Fence Hire New Zealand Breeders Stakes at Addington.

It was a nervous watch for most, as Princess Meritaten took the passing lane for the run home and Lakelsa was locked away on the inside.

But in a masterly, cool as you like drive, Robbie Close eased Lakelsa out to the middle of the track. He found a gap and Lakelsa powered home to beat a brave Princess Meritaten by half a length.

Outsider Boudica, running out of her skin, was three quarters of a length back in third.

LAKELSA REPLAY

“It was reminiscent of this race a couple of years ago when I won on Bettor Talk Art. I was able to push out on the turn, she found the gap and exploded through it,” Close said.

The winning time was 3-12.2 which is well outside the race record of 3-07.2 held by 2021 winner Watch Me Now.

“She’s a big strong girl and is learning all about racing and is getting better. I can’t thank Regan and the owner enough.”

Lakelsa is owned by Bruce and Al Sinclair from Wyndham in Southland who watched Todd grow up in the district before he headed north to Canterbury to ply his trade.

“I thought we were in a power of trouble from where I was watching at the top of the barn. I got a pleasant surprise when the caller called her coming through. It’s awesome and I’m rapt for the owners. It just shows that you can breed your own ones, you don’t need to go and get the fancy ones,” Todd said.

Lakelsa joins other Southland owned winners of the mares’ classic in Watch Me Now, Tact Lizzie, It’s Ella, Shortys Girl, Lento and Bonnie’s Chance.

It’s Ella owned by Megan McLellan and Irene and Jim Holland, also hails from Wyndham. She won the 2007 Breeders Stakes when trained by David and Catherine Butt.

The last six months have been great for the Wyndham area with local driver Craig Ferguson winning two Group One races. One of the two was behind Marketplace which is also trained by the Wyndham born Todd.

Tonight’s success is the second collaboration for Todd and Close in winning the Breeders Stakes, as they won the 2022 edition with Bettor Talk Art.

The win tonight takes Todd to 299 career wins.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink