Luksol storms to Gerry Skelton trophy

UNITED STATES-BRED LUKSOL shot past ULTIMATE MACHINE a half-furlong after leaving the gate to run rivals off their legs in yesterday’s Gerry Skelton Memorial for overnight-allowance runners at five and a half furlongs.

Ridden to the lead from stall nine by Reyan Lewis, the four-year-old filly turned around the form of her two previous races at the level, leaving RACE CAR to close late from off the pace for second ahead of EL PROFESOR and DUKE.

LUKSOL clocked 1:06.1 on a track made a bit fast by rain for the last two events, evidenced by BURLAP posting 58.0 for five furlongs straight in the previous race.

Champion trainer Jason DaCosta and all-but-crowned Lewis teamed up to snare the co-features, having landed the Mr Sensational Trophy for two-year-olds with another importee, American DIGITAL ONE, who made all, clocking 1:26.1 at seven furlongs.

Phillip Parchment and Javaniel Patterson also rode two-timers. Parchment opened the 10-race card aboard 3-5 favourite SENSATIONAL SATIN and returned to produce 14-1 outsider BURLAP from first to last at five furlongs straight in the ninth among non-winners of four races and imported non-winners of three.

Patterson turned the card on its head with outsiders on either half, PRINT QUALITY at 11-1 in the third and KAI ON THE GO at 16-1 in the eighth.

Racing continues at the weekend with the US$150,000 Mouttet Mile on Saturday.