LUCKY LUNA ECLIPSES RIVALS IN GLASSHOUSE

By Graham Potter | Monday, June 29, 2009

Lucky Luna provided trainer Eric Ropiha with a magical moment when arriving with a late flourish under a powerful ride from Scott Seamer to salute in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap at Coloundra on Saturday.

Lucky Luna was number twenty-two in the race-book, the second emergency, but the four-year-old made it worthwhile for all of those who found him way down on the list by making it two-wins- in-a-row following up on his success at Doomben in his last start. Lucky Luna ran down Rockpecker close to the line here, after the latter had looked the likely winner with 100m left to run.

This was Lucky Luna’s sixth win from 21 starts and the result more than doubled the gelding’s previous stake earnings. Lucky Luna has now earned $212 000.

Sunshine Coast, June 27.
Glasshouse Handicap - 1400m. Time: 1-31.58.
Track - Heavy 10.
1 Lucky Luna; 2 Rockpecker; 3 Rags To Riches.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Eric Ropiha: “I’ve been struggling with him all the time, but he’s a good honest horse. Mate, I said to Scotty Seamer that I wanted to have a crack at the Glasshouse, and he said, not ‘I’, ‘we’. I said, that’ll do me. So I contacted the owners and told them that we were going to the Glasshouse.

“I’m very excited and very grateful. I’ve had him in good races. He chased Hey Elvis home ... he beat Heart of the Citi ... and as I said he just seems to run five or six deep every bloody run. He joins in and he’s so honest that he just keeps hitting the line. But in the big races he hasn’t been able get any prize money. But he snuck in here as an emergency and got a run. My father always said, set them for big races and go for it.

I’ve got about fourteen horses at home at the moment. He’s the only one good enough to go to Brisbane mate. The others are lower grade horses, but I’m just grateful to all the owners who support me. Coloundra’s been a great track to me. I love the place.” (Ropiha won the Glasshouse with Osca Warrior in 2003). “When Oscar Warrior won he was 66-1. I only got 20’s today. Oscar Warrior was the best horse I’ve had. Lucky Luna is the best horse I’ve got at the moment.”

“There is a nice race in Toowoomba in two weeks on the Cushion Track (the Weetwood). I’m going to suggest to the owners we have a go at it.”

Jockey Scott Seamer: “Yeah, I thought I’d won on the line. Eric (Ropiha) has been getting him through his grades quite well. He’s had a few bad barriers, but today’s bad barrier was a blessing in disguise because that’s where you had to be. I was sort of midfield ... or a shade worse ... midfield four-deep with cover. Then coming to the corner I just came out wider and you know, he’s just a real good strong horse all the way to the line.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Shakara (A. Spinks) and Cocktail Supreme (T. Treichel) were slow to begin.

Near the 800m, Save a Buck (B. Evans) raced in restricted room between Voice Commander (T. Agland), which lost ground quickly at that stage, and Nexgen (K. Forrester), which was taken in by Dalzar (C. Reith), which in turn was taken in by Public Nuisance (N. Thomas). Save a Buck over-raced in the middle stages.

When questioned regarding the performance of Voice Commander, T. Agland stated that the horse failed to show its customary early speed today and after receiving a minor amount of tightening near the 900m and lost significant ground and did not feel comfortable in today's track conditions. T. Agland further added that once the horse was able to balance up in the home straight, the gelding worked home well over the concluding stages. Sommersea Drive lost its near-fore plate in running.

Mr A. Bailey, trainer of Charming Rogue, which proved disappointing today, advised stewards he would have his veterinary surgeon inspect the horse in the days following the event and would report any condition which may have had a bearing on the horse's performance.