In a race named after an incredibly tough mare, dual Cup winner Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}), it was fitting that the winner was another tough filly with a big future. Nick Olive-trained Spicy Lu (Tagaloa) was the first Stakes winner for her sire back in April last year when she won the Listed Fernhill Stakes, and she stepped it up with a big front running effort to win the Gr.3 Ethereal Stakes over 2000 metres at Caulfield.
Unbeaten in her first three starts at two, Spicy Lu trained off in the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes. Back at three, she’s mixed her form but came here to dominate and hold on under a strong ride from Nash Rawiller. She won by three-quarters of a length from the favourite Michael Freedman-trained Just A Journey (Justify {USA}) with Dominic Sutton-trained After Summer (The Autumn Sun), who was having her fourth start, in third.
“Running second in the Caulfield Cup with Single Gaze was probably the biggest thrill of my career, but it’s great to get a win down here, she’s just had no luck in her runs down here, it’s been so frustrating. Great to get the job done today,” Olive said.
“I haven’t got big money to spend, but she’s a Magic Millions buy, paid $30,000. So she’s been a great little filly, and the team at home has done a great job with that. Tony’s here, Tony Blackshaw. He’s been a big supporter of mine. He lives in Melbourne, so it’s great that he can share this.”
When asked if the Gr.1 Victoria Oaks was the long term goal, Olive said, “I have had it at the back of my mind, for sure. I just wanted to come and sort of aim for some of these races down in Melbourne. As I said, we’ve had no luck, but you know everything’s worth it today after winning this. I’ll sum that up over the next week I think, there’s not much of her, but she is a really tough horse, so we’ll make a decision on (the future) next week.”
The last filly to win both the Gr.3 Ethereal Stakes and the Gr.1 Victoria Oaks was Pinot (Pierro) in 2017.
Jockey Nash Rawiller felt she would see out the distance in the Oaks. “I must say, she had more control of me for the first three-or-four hundred. I really had to bring her back there halfway up the hill and to her credit she kept that lovely momentum and rhythm and she was tough as nails. I’m really proud of her, first up at 2000 (metres), she’s shown what she’s really made of. She’s shown us before at Randwick and it’s great to see her bounce back to form in the Spring Carnival.
“She’ll definitely run an Oaks trip, she’s tough as nails.” Spicy Lu took her record to four wins from eight starts with earnings over $312,000. She is raced by her trainer and partners.
Sold by Vinery Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale of 2024 for $30,000 to Nick Olive Racing.
Spicy Lu is one of three winners for her dam All Salsa (Charge Forward) who passed away in 2023. Her final foal is two-year-old filly Added Spice (Victor Ludorum {GB}). All Salsa won twice and was fourth in the Listed Wyong RC Mona Lisa Stakes. All Salsa’s second dam is Gr.3 Milano Premio Bagutta winner Alabaq (USA) (Riverman {USA}) who is a daughter of four-time Group 1 winner Salsabil (IRE) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}).
Written for TTRAusNZ
