Our Lukas creates history in Ipswich Cup

Our Lukas scored a record breaking victory on two fronts in the 2010 edition of the Listed Ipswich Cup on Saturday.  He became the first horse to win consecutive Ipswich Cups and he also created a new mark for NZ stakes wins in Australia.  The Kiwi record of 81 black-type wins in a season in Australia had stood for a decade before Our Lukas made it 82 for 2009-10.

The Robert Heathcote trained galloper faced a tough challenge after drawing wide but was given the run of the race by in-form hoop Stathi Katsidis.  They settled just off the pace before Our Lukas laid down the gauntlet to front-runner Frozone (Reset) in the straight.  

Frozone, a fellow Kiwi, fought back hard in the final stages, however, Our Lukas was too strong on the line and edged ahead to score by a nose.  The time of 2:10.6s was a tick outside Distancia’s course record.

Our Lukas (6g Generous – Parfore by Gold Brose) was coming off a Listed victory in the Strawberry Road Hcp at Doomben and his earnings now top NZ$545,000 which is a lucrative return on the $20,000 he cost agent Paul Willets from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2005 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale.

Bred by Final Triumph (NZ) Ltd, Our Lukas is from Parfore, a sister to the dam of the NZ G1 winner Il Quello Veloce (Captain Rio).  Parfore was covered by Captain Rio at Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud last year.