Second Time is Lucky

The aptly named two-year-old Second Time Lucky (NZ) (Any Suggestion) lived up to her name with victory at her second start in the Listed $50,000 Barnswood Farm Agistment Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday.

Second Time Lucky (NZ) (centre) wins the Listed Barnswood Farm Agistment Welcome Stakes on Saturday.

Purchased at the 2013 Karaka Festival Sale for a mere $5,500, Second Time Lucky has quickly repaid her delighted owners with her two starts already fetching over $30,000 in prizemoney.

Second Time Lucky’s trainer and part-owner Bryce Revell selected the filly at the Sale, and is keen to get back there.

“I saw her walk out of the box and I just liked the type of her,” Revell commented. “Being by Any Suggestion there was a good chance she would run a bit. She looks a bit like Ekstreme, my Group 1 horse, so she caught my eye.

“We hope to back at Karaka next year and find another. I bought two last year and they both have ability and I think they will both be better three-year-olds. The owners couldn’t make it to Christchurch but are so happy and I think they will be back at the Sale next year. The buzz you get when you win you just can’t get anywhere else.”

The filly is the second stakeswinner for her young sire Any Suggestion (Lion Hunter) who stands at Rich Hill Stud, with the Karaka Million winner Ockham’s Razor his first early this year.

Trained by Revell in New Plymouth, Second Time Lucky travelled down south last month for her debut appearance and was the runner-up behind race rival Hurunui (NZ) (Buffalo Man) also at Riccarton.

The daughter of Any Suggestion jumped from the outside barrier at the 1000m starting point and crossed the field to sit outside the leader Hurunui for leading South Island rider Chris Johnson.

The Festival Sale graduate was able to rein in the leader to find the front but was quickly challenged by Serein (NZ) (Postponed), a fellow Festival Sale alumni. Second Time Lucky held off the efforts of Serein to win by half a neck, with Perkins (NZ) (Sir Percy) completing the trifecta for Karaka graduates in third.

“I was very confident going into the race,” said Revell. “We only had one jump-out before we went down south and then ran second to Hurunui but I knew she had a lot of improvement and I know she has a lot of ability. From the first race to the second race horses just learn so much and they just learn to race.

“I sent her down there early because it just kept raining at home in September and I try to send a horse there every year. I stay at Rangiora and the horses do really well there as it is a bit warmer. She missed a lot of the wet weather and has done a lot of work on the beach so has done really well.”

Revell purchased the Any Suggestion filly from Highbury Park Stud to race with M Aiken, G P Hughes, and S M Payne.

Bred by G & Mrs L M Jones, Second Time Lucky is out of winning mare Dance Parade (Personal Hope) and becomes the fourth winner from as many starters for her dam. Second Time Lucky is the half-sister to the stakes placegetter Hayley Rose (Floral Dynamite).