Hard to keep a lid on excitement

ADMITTING it is getting hard to do, trainer Blake Caruana is trying to the ‘keep a lid’ on his excitement with Letherhairdown.

Having her second start since arriving from New Zealand, Letherhairdown was a class above her rivals at Tabcorp Park Melton today.

Also successful upon debut, the four-year-old’s wins have been with an average margin of 26-and-a-half metres.

Her latest success was by a comfortable 34 metres!

“I am rapt with her,” Caruana said. “We bought her from New Zealand hoping she would be a descent horse, but she is exceeding our expectations with the ease in which she has been winning.

“She toyed with them in back straight today and then clicked into another gear and did it so comfortably.

“She is still only lightly-raced and assessed, but it’s hard not to think about her going through the grades and being in some of the better mares’ races later on.

“On what she has shown so far I can’t see any reason why she won’t get right down in grade.”

Driven by John Caldow, Letherhairdown began quickly to lead from barrier five as the field travelled in ‘Indian file’.

Striding clear of the pack along the back straight, the daughter of A Rocknroll Dance was never fully extended to score from Bellasteel and Lotakevi.

“She did it as easily as she pleased,” Caruana said. “I know she only went 2:00.7 for the 2240 metres, but she walked it in.

“We just got back home and she went straight to the food and is as relaxed as can be….you wouldn’t know she went around.

“I’ll have to look at the program and see what is around for her in 10 to 14 days and hope she can keep this going.”