Lustown Baba scores in runaway fashion

The Sycamore Lodge Equine Hospital Handicap looked a wide open affair beforehand but it proved anything but as Lustown Baba routed her 14 rivals in the six-furlong event at the Curragh.

The daughter of Alhebayeb won twice for the Back Road Syndicate last year including the valuable Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Race Final at Naas and added to her tally here following a couple of creditable placed efforts.

The field split into two groups early on before coming together at halfway and the eye was drawn to Billy Lee who oozed confidence on the far side.

The Willie McCreery-trained filly led two furlongs out and stretched clear from over a furlong out to score by a jaw dropping seven and a half lengths. Rough Diamond and Wonder Elzaam took second and third respectively as the remainder were closely matched in a line across the track.

McCreery said, “She had been working well and is a different filly on that ground. The syndicate of lads that own her had great fun last year and won the Foran race.

“She’s been second to two good horses this year, and the stiff six suits her. She was able to get a lead today and they went a good strong gallop which really suited her.

“She’s in here on Thursday in the Testimonial Stakes so she will run in that. There is rain forecast tonight and the more the better.

“She’ll stay in training next year as she hasn’t done much this year with the way the ground was. She’s a big strong filly.”