LIVVY LASS EXTENDS GOOD FAMILY RECORD

Bringing the strongest form, Livvy Lass (5 m Reliable Man – Stella Doro, by Faltaat) recorded a richly deserved victory in the $10,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 1600 metres on 18 October at Avondale.

Bred and owned by Graham & Catherine O’Kane and Lisa Dillon, Livvy Lass was stiff not to break through during her first campaign which saw five top fours in six starts, and freshened after a very good second to Mac Attacka (Makfi), the winner of four from five, in the Special Conditions Maiden 1600 metres in July at Ruakaka.

While the writing was on the wall, with an inevitable win beckoning, following a tough fresh-up run for fourth in testing conditions on 25 September in the Maiden 1400 metres at Te Rapa, the job still had to be done.

Although squeezed out of early proceedings, rider Donavan Mansour never panicked and the mare lobbed along second last. The outcome appeared brighter nearing the home turn when travelling easily and she quickened too well for the opposition once presented inside the 300m.

“She’s getting better and she’s still got a lot of improvement to come,” said co-trainer Pam Gerard. “Her coats not quite there yet, but she’s getting there. She takes a bit of management, care and attention.

“It was a very good win. Donavan had come from back in the field for second in the previous race and said that as long as she switched off and got some cover he expected her to go whoosh in the straight.

“It looked as if he had them covered and a patient ride she got there pretty easily in the end. I think, in time, she’s looking to go further.”

Appreciative of footing upgraded into the slow range, Livvy Lass is from a very good family – one with plenty of upside – and she shares a similar form pattern to her dam. Stella Doro took time to break through, but once accomplished she became an impressive winner of four races up to a mile and performed at peak during the summer months. She has now produced six individual winners of 18 races.

The year younger brother to Livvy Lass, Reliable Team (Reliable Man), was a Ready to Run Sale topping colt ($430,000) and after being prepared initially in NZ he has now won two of his three starts in Hong Kong.

Livvy Lass was strapped by by Bianca Disher.