Lucy's living up to her name

Lucy's Rocket, a winner at Ascot Park yesterday, was one of nine yearlings Murray Swain bought at the Christchurch sales two years ago.

 The Roslyn Bush owner-trainer bought Lucy's Rocket because broodmare Zenover is on both sides of the filly's pedigree. Lucy's Rocket's sire, Elsu, is a grandson of Zenover, who is also the fourth dam back on the filly's maternal side.

"I bought her to breed from,'' Swain said of Lucy's Rocket. "She's not a fast filly, just a nice filly.''

 Lucy's Rocket was in season for her previous two starts. The condition stirred her up to make her break behind the mobile and cause a false start at Wyndham on February 7.

Swain owns Lucy's Rocket with his wife Wendy and daughter Philippa.

"He bought nine at the sales and she's the only winner among them. Although, the others are still coming up,'' Wendy Swain said.

Lucy's Rocket, driven by Murray Swain's brother, Robin, won the Invercargill Licensing Trust Pace. Atom Of Courage will stay in the care of Wyndham trainer Brendon McLellan for the Southern Supremacy Stakes Heat at Wyndham on Saturday.

 The three-year-old scored a convincing win in yesterday's Ascot Park Hotel Junior Drivers' Pace. Driven by Regan Todd, Atom Of Courage clocked 2min 47.3sec (2200m mobile) and won by three and a-half lengths.

"He jogged it,'' Todd said.

 Todd's employer, Burnham horseman Mark Jones, trains Atom Of Courage for Gold Coast owner Greg Brodie. Auditor General is in prime order for Saturday's Wyndham Cup. The Ohoka-trained four-year-old gained his 11th win from 28 starts when successful in the Summer Cup. His trainer Paul Kerr will have two runners at Wyndham, the other being Soak It Up who is a candidate for the Kindergarten Stakes. Soak It Up ran fourth in a maiden race yesterday.

 Consistent mare Songs O'Spring is another Wyndham prospect following her win in yesterday's Speights Ale House Junior Drivers' Pace. Her Wyndham trainer-driver, Brendon McLellan, has sold maiden pacer Really Living to Foxton trainer Peter Scaife.

The Go Forward, who ran fourth for Wyndham horseman Andrew Suddaby at Ascot Park last Tuesday, is also joining Scaife's team.

 Biella Star, M J Fulham and Coughton Court, who raced yesterday for North Canterbury trainer Robbie Holmes, will stay in Southland for the Wyndham meeting. The trio have been left with Riverton caretaker trainer John Bennett.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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