Very deserving Blue Riband victory

TALENTED youngster Luvtobeuptome registered a “very deserving” victory at Globe Derby last night.

Luckless in the Queensland and Victoria Derbys, Luvtobeuptome became a Blue Riband winner by capturing the South Australia Derby for trainer Courtney Slater.

Thrilled with the three-year-old’s performance, Slater stated the feature win was overdue.

“He has certainly earned that win,” Slater said. “He was runner-up and third in the Vicbred and Breeders’ Crown Finals last season and has been racing against the best of his crop most of this year.

“He didn’t have any luck in the Queensland Derby heat, but won the Consolation, and drew the car park in the Victoria Derby heat only to just miss making the Final.

“So we decided to have a shot at South Australia and it worked out well…I’m rapt as it is a very deserving win.”

With regular reinsman Josh Duggan in the cart, Luvtobeuptome was caught wide from barrier four before working his way to the front as early leader Steam Machine was eased to take a trail.

Striding clear during the latter stages, Luvtobeuptome was untouched to score by 28 metres from Zanda Man, with Lochinvar Leader five-and-a-half metres away third.

Rating 1:54.7 over 2230 metres, the son of Always B Miki took his record to seven wins and eight placings from 22 starts for earnings of $88,433.

Revealing she has no set plans for the colt, Slater is hoping a slot holder will select Luvtobeuptome to contest The Eureka at Club Menangle on November 21.

“We’ll sit down later this week and make a decision on where he’ll go next, but it would be great if he got into The Eureka,” Slater said. “There has been a little bit of chat, but nothing official.”