Cassidy booked for Lucia Valentina

24 March 2015

Lucia Valentina will have a new rider if, as expected, she backs up in Saturday’s $A1.5 million Gr.1 BMW Stakes at Rosehill.

“Jim Cassidy will be on her with Hugh Bowman suspended,” said Bruce Perry, racing manager for the mare’s owner Lib Petagna.

The Kris Lees-prepared Lucia Valentina finished third behind the Irish-bred Contributor and he Japanese visitor Tosen Stardom in the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes last weekend.

“She came through the race very well and as long as she’s 100 per cent she’ll run again,” Perry said. “She’s backed up before without a problem.”

Meanwhile, the Petagna-owned Dal Cielo travelled without incident on Monday to Sydney in preparation for the $A1 million ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes on April 4.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

The two of you will be aware of my ongoing concern as to the future of our sport. You could argue I have a vested interest; well, I did have, but my interest now is to give the future generations the opportunity my generation had. Now I can tell you, hand on heart, there were many financial thin times. 1975 was my fledgling start with five mares on 130 acres that occasionally flooded with the well-bred, non-race-winning Super Gray.

12 August 2026

Classy Debut Victory For Major Beel’s Brother Savagram

From a pedigree known all too well by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, 3yo Savabeel colt Savagram (NZ) kicked off his race career in the best possible way, highlighting himself as a potential black-type performer.