Lucia Accepts Hong Kong Invite

Trainer Kris Lees has confirmed that the connections of classy mare Lucia Valentina (Savabeel-Staryn Glenn, by Montjeu) have accepted an invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club for her to compete in the Gr1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on 13 December, reports Racing.com. “It’s a great honour to be invited to such a prestigious meeting, and I’m really looking forward to it,” Lees said. “Lucia Valentina has been back at Broadmeadow for a week, and will be flown from Sydney to Hong Kong on Monday week [30 November].” Damien Oliver has been booked to ride Lucia Valentina in what will be her first overseas assignment. The champion jockey was aboard the dual Gr1-winning mare when she won the Gr2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival. “It is a terrific opportunity to test the mare on the world stage,” Lees added. “It is over her best distance, and I’m sure she’ll be competitive. Obviously, even a placing in a race such as this would boost her value as a broodmare when she retires.”