Sires’ Stakes success

Talented two-year-old colt Lucky Luka (Bettor’s Delight- Settle Petal), who was bred and reared at Breckon Farms, scored a brilliant win in the opening heat of the NZ Sires’ Stakes at Auckland on Friday night (September 4).

Starting from the No. 6 gate, the Tony Herlihy trained and driven youngster settled down in sixth position in the running line. Tipped three-wide approaching the straight entrance, Lucky Luka mounted a withering finishing flourish to prevail by a length.

The colt earned a new speed badge of 1:56.5 for 1700 metres.

He has won three of his four starts for $33,825 in stakes.

Thirty minutes later the Breckon Farms bred and part-owned gelding Illicit Love (Father Patrick-Cheeky Babe) took full advantage of a sweet trip to win the Open Trot and lift his stake tally beyond the $100,000 plateau.

It was the four-year-old’s third win on end and his sixth lifetime success.

At Addington, the Breckon Farms’ bred four-year-old mare Nothing But You (Captaintreacherous-Bubbled Up) led from the outset and boomed home her last 800 in a slick 55.4 seconds to register a comfortable win.

She rated 1:57.1 over 1980 metres.

Nothing But You, an $80,000 purchase at the National Yearling Sale at Karaka in 2023, has now won four races with 14 placings from 23 starts and $76,521.