Kensington previews: Les Bridge is convinced Lillium is ready to live up to her potential
Recent Hall of Fame Inductee Les Bridge is confident lightly-raced mare Lillium has finally put her injury issues behind her and can deliver a win at Kensington on Wednesday afternoon.
The five-year-old has been restricted to just five career starts so which has netted two wins and a third placing.
Her most recent victory was at Kembla back on April 3 when resuming from a 16 month break away from racing.
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Hall of Fame Inductee Les Bridge with his Everest winner Classique Legend. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
She then finished an encouraging fourth behind the talented but enigmatic Strawb at Warwick Farm three weeks ago.
“She’s a nice who has just had a few issues. Hopefully she is over them now,” Bridge said
“She’s had trouble with her joints so we decided to give her a good spell to see if we could get her over the problem.
“One of the best things horses can be given is time. She has come back well and seems to be much better.
“Her first-up run was good and she ran a nice race second-up.
“I think she will run a hell of a race.”
Another lightly-raced filly Bridge has a bit time for is Miss Delia.
The three-year-old contests the TAB Handicap over 1550m and while she is quoted around the $34-mark, Bridge expects a bold performance.
“She’s a Dundeel filly who has taken a bit of time to come good,” he said.
“I expect her to run very well. My only concern is if she might want a touch further.
“I think you will see her get out over 2000 metres eventually but that’s not to say she can’t run well tomorrow.
Louise Day will partner both Lillium and Miss Delia for Les Bridge. Picture: Grant GuySource:The Daily Telegraph
“She’s got nothing on her back and Louise Day rides very well.
“If she can use that good barrier to her advantage and keep her in a nice position with no weight on her back, she should run a really good race. She’ll finish it off, don’t worry about that.”
Bridge’s final runner for the day is Olympic Legend who is shooting for back-to-back wins in the Vinery Stud Handicap over 1300m.
The four-year-old kicked off his campaign with a narrow but solid win from Rammstein at Canterbury four weeks ago.
While the margin was only a half head, the gelding was forced to weave between runners in the straight before getting through on the rails and grabbing victory right on the line.
“He only just got up on the post first-up but it was a good effort,” said Bridge.
“The draw is a little bit tricky on this track so Kerrin (McEvoy) will have to try and get him one off the fence somewhere. It’s a track you don’t won’t to be three-wide on.
“I’ll just leave that up to Kerrin. He knows the track and the horse so I’m sure he’ll find the right spot on him.
“He likes the sting out of the track which he gets here and he has always raced well on the Kensington track which is a big help.”
VERNE READY TO BEGIN RACING JOURNEY
The patience of trainer Annabel Neasham can be rewarded if promising colt Verne makes a winning debut at Kensington on Wednesday.
The two-year-old has always connections he has plenty of ability but has just needed time according to Neasham before the covers could be pulled off on race day.
“He’s a lovely colt who I have been looking forward to kicking off for a while now,” Neasham said.
“He just needed time and I don’t like to rush them if they are not ready.
“We didn’t get there last preparation so we gave him a little break. He’s had two nice trials this time in and ready to go to the races now.”
A $300,000 Easter Yearling, the son of Snitzel is a full brother to Group 2 Australia Stakes winner and Group 1 William Reid Stakes runner Thronum who achieved his career highlights as a four-year-old.
Verne had his second trial of this preparation at Randwick last Thursday where he raced wide throughout before closing off strongly to finish second to Stick To Your Guns.
“He’s going to be a nice three-year-old but I think he’s forward enough to get the job done as a two-year-old,” she said.
Annabel Neasham (right) and Tommy Berry combine with debutant Verne and the progressive Stoltz at Kensington on Wednesday. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
Osamu finally broke his maiden at Newcastle recently after notching six seconds in his first 12 starts.
The now gelding is also nominated for Doomben on Saturday with Neasham leaving the decision on which way he will head until Wednesday morning.
“It was nice to see him break through,” she said.
“He looked like he was going to win by three (lengths) but he hit the front and had a bit of a think about it.
“Hopefully he has taken plenty out of that win.
“Which ever way he goes, I’m sure he’ll run well.
In the final event, the Warwick Farm horsewoman saddles up the progressive Stoltz who is looking to make it two from two this campaign after scoring a nice win at Wyong three weeks ago.
“He’s always been a horse with a fair bit of ability and he has come back stronger this time in,” she said.
“Hopefully, he will be hard to beat again.
Originally published asKensington preview: Time allows Lillium to blossom
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