Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star filly Water Lou enhanced her prospects of winning the rich WA Oaks later this year when she overcame significant odds to score a splendid victory in the $50,000 APG Sales Classic for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
An aggressive drive by Shannon Suvaljko paved the way for Water Lou’s win. The filly was the $1.20 favourite from the outside of the back line and Suvaljko dashed her forward three wide to move into a commanding position, one-out and one-back, with the $71 outsider Atlantic Gem in front after a flying start from the No. 7 barrier.
However, Maddison Brown sent the $6 chance Xceptional Arma to the front after 550m, leaving Water Lou in the breeze. Xceptional Arma set a brisk pace and after a second quarter of 29.4sec. she sprinted over the third 400m section in 28.1sec.
Water Lou challenged Xceptional Arma in the back straight before forging to the front about 420m from home. She went on to win by 4m from $81 outsider The Swindler, who was sixth at the bell before finishing strongly. Xceptional Arma held on to finish third.
Astute trainer Mike Reed was full of praise for Water Lou’s fighting victory, saying that pre-race plans did not eventuate.
“From the outside of the back line the plan was to go forward and try to settle in front of Xceptional Arma,” said Reed. “But that didn’t work out, with I Cross My Heart galloping (after 120m).
“I was not particularly happy when Water Lou was left in the breeze. But she did a good job, especially getting to the front leaving the back straight, and from there it’s a long way from home.”
Water Lou, bought for $65,000 by Jim and Wilma Giumelli at the 2022 APG Perth yearling sale, has earned $219,877 from ten wins and two seconds from 14 starts. She is by American sire Sweet Lou and is the eighth foal out of the South Australian-bred mare Living Hei, who had only one start, finishing last in a C0 event at Bendigo in March 2007.
“Water Lou has got speed, and everyone thinks she has got to lead, but she can sit and sprint, and tonight she did the work and still won,” said Reed.
“I might give her a bit of a let-up. I have tried to give her a few let-ups, but she just won’t settle. I have taken her to two agistment places and she just walked up and down the fence, so I ended up bringing her home and she still walked up and down the fence.”