Racing: Lizzie L'Amour loves course

Lizzie L'Amour and rider Matthew Cameron. Photo / Trish Dunell

The country's leading trainers have continued their recent domination of a Te Rapa group two feature with this year's winner completing a stunning stakes double on the Hamilton course.

Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have enjoyed a stellar run in the Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) with past successes with Lady Kipling (2011), Diademe (2013), Sports Illustrated (2014) and last season with Coldplay.

It was the turn yesterday of Lizzie L'Amour, who led home a stable trifecta 12 months to the day since she claimed top honours in the Waikato Cup (2400m).

The Zabeel mare was making her first appearance since a disappointing spring campaign in Melbourne where she failed to flatter in four outings.

"In Australia she didn't exhibit this sort of form and I don't know why — she's not called Dizzy Lizzie for nothing," Baker said.

"She had been working well though."

Lizzie L'Amour sat outside the leader Stolen Dance and she finished bravely under rider Matthew Cameron.

"She's obviously a very good mare when she's right and it was a good ride from Matt, he got his tactics right," Baker said.

The favourite Love Affair did well to come from the back of the field, on a day when there was a bias towards on-pace runners, to finish runner-up in her first crack at weight-for-age. Stolen Dance boxed on strongly for third.

"It's very satisfying and a big surprise, I thought Love Affair would be very hard to beat," Baker said. "She's a very good horse and her turn will come."

Meanwhile in this year's Group three Waikato Cup talented central districts galloper Five To Midnight sat in the trail before angling clear on straightening and wasn't to be denied in the run to the post. The 5-year-old had a long neck to spare on the fast-finishing Promise To Reign.

"The horse had done really well since Pukekohe, I couldn't have been happier with him, and I would have been disappointed if he wasn't right in this," trainer Lisa Latta said.

Zambezi Warrior continued to show improvement with his run for third ahead of Rock On, who was slow to get into stride before looping the field down the back straight to sit outside the leader.

- NZ Racing Desk