Luminance has proven herself up to black-type level on a heavy surface and trainer Kurtis Pertab is looking to put that ability to the test on a better track when she contests Saturday’s Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka.
The daughter of Time Test continued to improve through her juvenile season, culminating in a maiden victory against the older horses at Wellington, and just came up short to Platinum Diamond in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) last month.
That performance was a rewarding result for Pertab, who allowed the filly to race in her preferred pattern after testing out different options through the campaign.
“It was a great effort from her in the Ryder,” Pertab said. “She tends to over-race a bit, so Leah (Hemi, jockey) may have had to press the button a little bit early, but she did the right thing as she’s better off rolling where she’s happy than restraining her, which we’ve tried in the past.
“She’s quite a fierce little filly, there’s not a lot to her, but she’s always been that way inclined. It was all on from the 600m, so she was brave.
“The heavy track seems to be her go at the moment, she won at Wellington on a very heavy track, then she’s run well in the Ryder as well.”
Luminance has enjoyed a fairly quiet fortnight since her Otaki run, with one solid piece of work during the week at Matamata.
“She hasn’t done a hell of a lot since then, with the trip to Otaki and now another trip up to Ruakaka,” Pertab said. “She’s had one good gallop on the course proper at Matamata, and that’ll be enough to bring her on.
“The weather has got an early spring feel to it, we’ve had some really good weather here over the last week and the plough is open at Matamata, which is a great asset to our training and it shows how quickly things are drying up.”
While Pertab is welcoming the warmer conditions at home, a drier surface bodes a query for Luminance as she takes on a quality field of three-year-olds at Ruakaka.
“It is a question mark with how she will cope with the better footing against a good, quality field,” he said. “I think it’s a pretty even field with some good, progressive fillies, so it’ll be good to see how she stacks up on better ground, knowing she’s capable of doing so on a Heavy10.
“It’ll be a good line for us to see where she goes next.”
Joining the filly in the north will be stablemate You Bid You Buy, who contests the Support North Haven Hospice (1600m).
“He’s a horse that has been a bit disappointing, we’ve always had a good opinion of him but he hasn’t shown that ability on race day,” Pertab said.
“He pulled up from the poly last start with a little bit of an issue, but he’s come through that and is 100 percent now.
“I’m expecting him to run well. Dropping back to the mile will suit him better, but he has let me down before.”
