Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Water Lou gave further proof of her remarkable ability when she surged home from last in the middle stages to beat Blaze Away and six other male rivals in the 2130m HTA Taking You To New Heights Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and a host of rich feature events, including the WA Derby, are on the agenda for the brilliant filly.
Leading reinsman Shannon Suvaljko heaped praise on the Mike Reed-trained Water Lou, declaring that she deserved a crack at the $200,000 Derby to be run on November 1.
“Water Lou is better than Libertybelle Midfrew and Maczaffair, who competed against the colts and geldings,” said Suvaljko, who drove both those star pacers for Reed when they won the WA Oaks in 2014 and 2017, respectively.
Water Lou’s immediate target is the $100,000 Westbred Classic on September 6, with the qualifying heats being run at Pinjarra next Monday.
After that Water Lou will be set for the $150,000 WA Oaks on October 4, and there is a possibility of her running in the $50,000 Daintys Daughter Classic at Gloucester Park on September 29.
Water Lou is firmly on target to exceed the great deeds of Libertybelle Midfrew (51 starts for 19 wins, 11 placings and $640,497) and Maczaffair (160 starts for 35 wins, 36 placings and $686,726).
After winning the WA Oaks in May 2014 Libertybelle Midfrew did not contest the WA Derby that season. But she proved her worth when she beat several male rivals in the Golden Nugget in December 2014.
Maczaffair finished 11TH behind Handsandwheels in the Derby in April 2017 before winning the Oaks the following month. Then in December 2017 she finished second to Ultimate Machete in the Golden Nugget.
Water Lou boosted her earnings to $357,434 with her victory on Friday night when she was the $5.20 third favourite behind the polemarker Blaze Away ($3.20) and Waverider ($4). This was the longest price of her 24-start career which has produced 19 wins and two second placings.
Reed produced Water Lou is great shape for her first appearance after a 32-day break, and Suvaljko was content to settle the filly in last place in the field of eight while Blaze Away was setting the pace after a slow lead time of 38.6sec. and a modest opening quarter of 30.8sec.
When Waverider began a three-wide move with 1000m to travel, Suvaljko followed that run. Water Lou was third, out three wide, on the home turn and three lengths behind Blaze Away before she sprinted strongly to hit the front 20m from the post to win by a half-length from Blaze Away. The final 400m sections were run in 27.3sec. and 28.5sec., with the winner rating 1.56.8.
“The early pace was slow, so I knew they would get going in the last lap,” said Suvaljko. “Therefore, I had to follow Waverider as soon as he went. Water Lou showed her class when she went to the line strongly after racing wide in the last lap. The leader had it easy and had every chance to beat us.”
Michael Young, the trainer of Blaze Away, said he was happy with the gelding’s performance at his first start for eleven months. “I thought he could win, but losing in those times doesn’t disappoint me,” he said. “He hit a wheel a couple of times and got a bit keen. Water Lou was sensational.”