Rick Smith has been a passionate racing man for as long as he’s held the reins at PFD Food Services.  And as Executive Chairman of PFD, Smith has been one of racing’s most generous sponsors for many years.

Some of those sponsorships dollars returned to home base when Lucky Penny won the PFD Food Services Hcp (1400m) by almost three lengths at Caulfield on Saturday.

Lucky Penny (3f Keep The Faith – White Hart Lane by Flying Spur) is a homebred for Smith and she won a Wodonga maiden by 8 lengths on debut before another dominant display in town.  “She’s a nice big filly and we will send her across to Adelaide for a Listed race there next month,” Smith said.  “All going well, she will then  head to Brisbane for the Queensland Oaks.”

Jockey Linda Meech is confident Lucky Penny will handle a classic trip.  “She’s all class,” Meech told Smith after weighing in at Caulfield.  “She’s done nothing wrong at both starts and is mature enough to get over ground.”

Connections have pin-pointed the LR Laelia Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on May 12 as her next assignment in the lead-up to the G1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 2.  The prizemoney combined for both races is $500,000.

Lucky Penny’s dam White Hart Lane won four races for Smith and was also stakes placed at Flemington and Morphettville.  She has been a regular visitor to Swettenham Stud foaling Moonee Valley winner Tottenham Girl (Dash for Cash) before Lucky Penny (Keep The Faith) and an unraced 2yo colt by Soldier’s Tale.

Keep The Faith (Sunday Silence) transferred to Greta West Stud earlier this month and Smith reckons it makes sense to send White Hart Lane to his new base this year. Especially if Lucky Penny keeps progressing to win a Group 1 classic in Brisbane.

Greta West studmaster Laurie McCarthy will stand Keep The Faith for a $4,400 (inc gst) service fee in 2012.

LUCKY PENNY
Keep the Faith filly heading for G1 Queensland Oaks