The winning roll of Lofty’s Gift (NZ) (Ghibellines) continued at Wingatui on Sunday, the consistent mare going four in a row with a hard-fought victory in The Mosgiel Tavern (2200m).
A daughter of Ghibellines, Lofty’s Gift won two races in the care of Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray, and relocated to the Ascot Park stable of Robert Dennis earlier this year.
Since journeying south, the mare had four starts and won the most recent three, and was allocated 54kg in the Rating 87 contest with the luxury of Donovan Cooper’s claim bringing that back to just 51kg.
Lofty’s Gift was backed into $3.20 favouritism and settled comfortably midfield under Cooper, before being forced three-wide along the back straight with Lovelock controlling the pace in front.
The mare claimed the lead at the top of the straight alongside Heidi Hi and Leitrim Lad and was slightly wayward under pressure, but she let down strongly from the 200m and held off the late charge of Proserve to score by a long neck.
Dennis was proud of the mare’s efforts, particularly after the run in transit she had endured.
“It was a super effort, she was very tough and very brave,” he said.
“She did it the hard way caught out wide and was a bit of a sitting duck up the straight, but she was just too good for them again.”
Despite raising her career earnings over $125,000 for owners Markwood Lodge and the Knot Enough Syndicate, Dennis explained Lofty’s Gift is fairly unassuming despite her talent on the track.
“She’s honestly just another horse, doesn’t make any waves and she fits in and does her thing,” he said.
“But once we take her to the races, she just puts in 100% and wants to win.
“We’ll just pick out the next good staying race for her now and probably have a go at that.”
The five-year-old was bred by the Anderton’s of White Robe Lodge, as the sixth foal out of their Danzighill mare Flyby. Their resident sire Ghibellines had a highly-successful afternoon at the local meeting, his progeny in Bauble, Anticipate and impressive debut winner Cloche also saluting.
