Lieutenant Lou Salutes

The first two-year-old race of the year in Queensland was run and won at The Creek today, with Lieutenant Lou justifying the market support with a dominant win.

It was not all plain sailing however, the gelding put in some funky steps at the 1200m point before resetting and returning to a pace.

As the mobile released the field of six, it was Lieutenant Lou that showed superior early speed and quickly into stride was able to cross to the front as Samnate eased across to sit parked, with Seaside Glory taking the trail as they put the first quarter up in 28.5.

Approaching the 1200, Lieutenant Lou went roughly and that allowed Samnate to work to the front, as Brendan Barnes settled Lieutenant Lou, sliding back down in behind the leader, forcing Seaside Glory to three back along the inside, leaving Racana exposed leading the one wide line.

With a steady time for the ‘babies’ as they put up a middle half of 61.7, there were no real moves as they passed the quarter pole.

Turning for home, Barnes angled Lieutenant Lou to the outside and the gelding responded, powering home to claim a decisive victory over Samnate which held on for second place.

The margin was 12.1 metres, with a head back to the third placed Need Not To Warry which darted through along the passing lane.

“It was so pleasing to win first up with this horse, he has a lovely group of owners,” trainer Graham Dwyer said after the race.

“This guy has been so easy to deal with right the way through” he said.

The son of Sweet Lou out of the mare Major Bonus is a graduate of the inaugural Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale, with Dwyer and clients going to $25,000 to secure the colt.

Educated by Darren Weeks and Kylie Rasmussen before heading back to Dwyer, all early reports were positive.

“We were keen on him on the page, and then when we saw him, he ticked all the boxes, he was just such a lovely type.

“The fact we have the Nutrien race and the Sunshine Stars to target and the fact he is QBRED which he claimed the bonus for today, makes it so worthwhile,” Dwyer said.

It has been a strong week for graduates of the Sunshine Stars Sale, with three winners coming in the past six days.

Last Wednesday at Bathurst, Sugar Rush became the first winner to come through the 2023 Sale and then one night later, Ohoka Dream was the second winner when successful at Penrith.

Lieutenant Lou is now the first Queensland based graduate of the Sunshine Stars to claim victory and also the first two-year-old winner for the season in the Sunshine State.

Dwyer was hesitant to map out any concrete plans with the gelding, however the Nutrien Classic Heat on April 9 looks a likely target.