Luxembourg 'Loved It on the Line'

Date: 22 May 2022

Luxembourg 'Loved It on the Line'

 

Fresh-up, Luxembourg (3 g Burgundy - Miss Daphne, by Diamond Express) made every post a winner in the Maiden 1200 metres on 22 May at Hawera.

 

Spelled in February after two runs, Luxembourg finished a close second in a trial on 10 May at Avondale, and trainer Te Akau Mark Walker had him ready to act.

Ridden by stable apprentice Joe Kamaruddin, who notched his 60thwin this season and leads his peers in the Premiership, Luxembourg began well from barrier three to lead, travelled sweetly, and while those behind were all out chasing he was strong through the line to score by one and three-quarter lengths.

“He's kicking great guns, here, for smiling Joe,” said commentator Tony Lee. “He was a sitting duck a long way out, but just kept finding and just a little too good.”

Sponsored by Eltham Vet Services “Whiti Te Ra”, Luxembourg ran 1200 metres in 1:15.5 on rain-affected footing and paid $7.00 & $2.30 on the TAB tote.

“He was well ridden by Joe (Kamaruddin),” Walker said. “He's a slower maturing horse that has got stronger during this preparation and he got through the ground well today.

“He's shown ability to win quite early in his career and I think he's the sort of horse to get better as a four-year-old, too.”

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $95,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock 2020 Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Archer Park, Luxembourg is owned by the Te Akau Burgundy Brilliance Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Luxembourg is by ill-fated stallion Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), a sad loss to the industry and whose progeny, courtesy of Group One winning Te Akau homebred fillies Belle En Rouge and Maven Belle, has enjoyed a stellar season.

Ellis purchased both Burgundy (Redoute's Choice) and his three-quarter brother Darci Brahma (Danehill) as yearlings at Karaka. Mark Walker trained the latter to win five Group One races before becoming a multiple Champion Sire, while Burgundy won five stakes' races before going to stud.

At the time of purchasing Luxembourg, Ellis said: “He's a lovely colt and really has so much of Burgundy in his makeup. Burgundy was the fastest horse that Te Akau has ever trained. He made an immediate impact as a sire and it's certainly a loss to the breeding industry that he died at such a young age.

“His progeny is continuing to do a great job. They love racing. We've bred and bought some beautiful horses by him and I'm thrilled for the owners that he's won at just his third start.”

From a terrific family, that of history making 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Katie Lee (Pins), his dam Miss Daphne has done a great job at stud to leave six individual winners of 14 races.

Luxembourg carries a pedigree cross of breed shaper and legendary stallion Sir Tristram.

“It was a pretty quiet weekend for us, with only four runners, but nice for Joe to get a win on Luxembourg and he rode Aromatic well for us on Saturday at Trentham, where he was just grabbed near the line to finish second in the James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup (Listed, 1600m),” Ellis added.

Luxembourg was strapped by Reece Trumper.

Trumper said: “That was a special thrill to strap Luxembourg and see him win so well, because he's from the same family as dual Group One winner Gee I Jane (who included the Telegraph Handicap and became NZ Champion Sprinter/Miler in 2006).

“My Nana and Granddad stood Jahafil at Cheveley Stud, and Gee I Jane was his best horse.”

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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