Iron filly London’s Image will get one last chance to score another valuable blacktype win in Saturday’s TABtouch-Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) at Ascot.
Already a blacktype winner in the Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) earlier this month, London’s Image lines up for the third consecutive week in Saturday’s Listed feature.
The Headwater filly produced brave performances to finish second in the Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) and fifth in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) on November 16 and 23 respectively.
London’s Image was a tearaway leader of last week’s WA Guineas, before being run down in the concluding stages and beaten two lengths by eventual winner Storyville.
Trainer Ryan Hill said he was pleased with the filly’s effort and how she came through it, despite jockey Declan Bates indicating he was disappointed to finish out of the money.
“Declan came in and said he got it wrong and that he just went too hard,” Hill told Racing WA Thoroughbred.
“He said he wouldn’t have gone so early if he had his time again.
“He thought he should’ve finished closer, but I was wrapped with the run.
“She was a bit tired after the race, but she’s bounced out of last Saturday well.
“We gave her a bath on Monday morning, and she was jumping around her paddock after that.”
London’s Image, to be ridden by Steven Parnham, meets a strong field in Saturday’s $125,000 event, including Placid Ark Stakes winner Wind And The Lion, Mai Aloha and Sir Dreamalot.
Wind And The Lion is the $2.90 betting sites favourite for the Lee-Steere Classic, ahead of Mai Aloha ($3.40), Sir Dreamalot and London’s Image ($7.50).
Hill said London’s Image getting a weight swing in her favour over Wind And The Lion and a more economical run would give her a good chance to reverse the Placid Ark result.
“We meet Wind And The Lion better at the weights, but I’ve got full respect for him and Sean and Jake wouldn’t put him in if they didn’t think he could win,” he said.
“Last time we were three-deep over the 1200 and Chris (Parnham) was happy to follow us on Wind And The Lion.
“This time we will jump and be on the fence and give a good kick off the corner and be hard to run down.”
Hill said he would likely spell London’s Image after Saturday and look to bring her back for February’s Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1200m) at Pinjarra.
London’s Image has built a credible record of three wins and three placings from 11 starts.
Hill said the $270,000 prize money earner had quickly developed into a stable favourite.
“We’ve always had a great opinion of her,” he said.
“She started in the first two-year-old race last year and won as a two-year-old later in the season.
“She was a cheap buy and whatever she does now is a bonus.”
