LIGHTLY-raced filly Lavish Girl is destined for more wins after scoring an impressive victory in a $130,000 restricted race at Flemington on Saturday for Victoria's leading trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
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Lavish Girl, ridden by stable apprentice jockey Teo Nugent, defeated Lunar Cat by more then a length with Honeycreeper back in third place in the 1400 metre contest.
Maher said Lavish Girl had performed well in this campaign but there is still more improvement in the three-year-old.
"Saturday's race looked a nice race for Lavish Girl on paper and it proved out that way," the Winslow training export told The Standard.
"Lavish Girl has been in work for a fair while but she's handling her racing well. She was placed last time in listed company which is really great for her breeding potential. I've got to credit to our staff - they have done a sensational job in keeping her ticking along.
"We'll reassess what we do with Lavish Girl going forward but on the back of that win I think she may get out in distance to 1600 metres. I think she's got a bright future in front of her"
Maher took time to acknowledge the winning ride by Nugent who only needs three more city wins to become a senior jockey.
"Teo's riding in excellent form," he said.
"Teo had a winner at Moonee Valley on Friday night and backed that up winning on Lavish Girl on Saturday. He's only got three more metropolitan winners before he's a senior jockey.
"He's done a great job as an apprentice. I thought his ride on Lavish Girl was very good. He allowed her time to settle before making his run."
Lavish Girl took her stake earnings to more then $115,000 with the win.
Maher was severely reprimanded by stewards after comments he made in an interview about the suspension of top jockey Jamie Kah. Maher told stewards he used a poor choice of words and would be more judicious in future when expressing his personal views.
Stewards said the comments could be viewed as prejudicial to the image and interest of racing.
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