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Mighty Lucky has thrived in his first race start over 2000m where he produced a strong win in the Group 3 Summer Cup at Randwick.
While having performed well up to a mile this preparation, there were always going to queries on Mighty Lucky’s ability to handle the step up to 2000m for the first time in his career.
The Fred Cowell-trained gelding didn’t just handle the distance rise, instead excelling over the middle distance trip.
Mighty Lucky recorded a 2.5 length victory over Chris Waller placegetters Junoob and I’m Imposing.
From an inside draw, Kathy O’Hara had Mighty Lucky positioned third on the fence as Junoob dictated at a solid tempo.
O’Hara and Mighty Lucky remained closer to the inside turning for home and then wasted little time in claiming the lead off Junoob by the 300m.
The pair drew well clear of their rivals with Junoob and I’m Imposing chasing the Casino Prince gelding home in vain.
“I thought today was the right day to get on him,” O’Hara said.
“He won that well. 2000m was good for him. He ran it out strongly. It was a genuine tempo out up front.
“If there was ever going to be doubt about him running it [2000m] it would have been today but he put them away well.”
In the midst of a career best preparation, Mighty Lucky has now posted two stakes wins through his past three outings.
His defeat between stakes successes was an admirable fifth to Happy Clapper in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on December 12.
It was the second time Kathy O’Hara has partnered Mighty Lucky through his 36 start career with Nathan Thomas having ridden the gelding in 34 of his prior racestarts.
“His form has been terrific leading into it,” O’Hara said.
“Fred [Cowell] has done a great job and Nathan Thomas too, he has done a great job of riding the horse.
“I rode this horse a long time ago. Fred said to me at the time ‘I’ll get you back on this horse one day”.
The Summer Cup also marked the final race start for the Chris Waller-trained I’m Imposing who will now be retired after finishing third in the event.
He exits racing with seven wins and 16 minor placings from 47 starts and prizemoney earnings in excess of $600,000.
I’m Imposing’s career best wins came in the 2013 Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) and the 2014 Listed Festival Stakes (1500m), each at Randwick.
The son of Danehill Dancer also possesses ten stakes placings which includes a third in the 2015 Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m).
