NZ Oaks heroine retired

Taranaki couple Peter and Heather Crofskey have enjoyed a fairytale ride with their Group One winner Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn), but that journey has now come to an end following her recent retirement from racing.

Bred by the Crofskeys, Leica Lucy is by Grangewilliam Stud stallion Derryn and out of winning Sir Percy mare Dynamite Lucy, a half-sister to Group Two performer Endowment and stakes performer Airlie House.

She was entrusted to the care of New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson, for whom she won six of her seven races as a three-year-old, including the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m), Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m), Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), and Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m).

Following her victory in the Desert Gold Stakes, the Crofskeys sold a share in Leica Lucy to prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir, whose familiar colours she carried for the rest of her career.

After her Oaks triumph, Leica Lucy was transferred to leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller, for whom she ran fourth in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m).

She continued to thrive in spring last year, placing in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) before finishing runner-up to Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

Leica Lucy had four unplaced runs over autumn and subsequently underwent surgery to remove bone chips from her fetlock, but that was found to be unsuccessful following her two resuming trials last month, and the decision was made to retire her.

“She has been retired,” Heather Crofskey said. “She wasn’t striding out in her trials and I thought ‘something is wrong here’. The operation that she had on her fetlock (to remove bone chips) didn’t work.”

Kheir and the other shareholders have elected to retain Leica Lucy to breed from, while the Crofskeys have decided to part ways and sell their share in the mare to the rest of the group.

“They decided that they would go into breeding with her,” Crofskey said. “We have got enough horses at home so we decided we will make it a split and they can carry on with the breeding side with her.

“I know Ozzie was talking about putting her to Home Affairs. We will be watching with interest.”

Reflecting on Leica Lucy’s racing career, Crofskey said she was a marvel.

“It was an experience that we never ever dreamed of. We went to every race and she was just outstanding,” she said.

“A lot of the credit has to go to Robbie Patterson. He picked her out from our band of horses and said he liked her. Every horse he has said that about has been a good horse.

“The New Zealand Oaks was the highlight. She wasn’t 100 percent in that race and she showed sheer guts. It was shivering.

“She was a lovely-natured horse who could relax, and that is the thing that the riders really loved about her. She could relax and use her incredible power to come home.

“She was second to Pride of Jenni (in the Empire Rose) and behind her were other big named horses. She had plenty.

“If she hadn’t had the issue with her fetlock I believe she could have carried on and got a Group One in Australia.”

The Crofskeys still have plenty of other horses to keep them entertained, and they are particularly excited about the prospects of the Patterson-trained Meloni (NZ) (Ghibellines), who will line-up in the Manawatu Toyota & John Turkington Forestry 1600 at Trentham on Saturday.

“I think Meloni is going to give us some pleasure,” Crofskey said. “That was an incredible trial that he ran. He is a Ghibellines and he is going to be a lot of fun. We have also got a Vanbrugh, Ace High, Profondo and Armory – the band is getting bigger.”

The Crofskeys are also continuing to enjoy their breeding endeavours, but in a reduced capacity this season.

“We bred three (mares) last year but only one this year,” she said. “We are putting Question Mark (a half-sister to multiple stakes winner and 2017 Singapore Champion three-year-old Countofmontecristo) to Hilal.”

While the Crofskeys have parted ways with Leica Lucy, they will continue to reflect on the fond memories she gave them as they look up at her trophies on the mantlepiece.

“They (trophies) are all on the mantlepiece and we can look at them and say, ‘what a gift’,” Crofskey said.