Luberon provides icing on cake

Homebred Luberon completed a hugely satisfying weekend for us when she claimed her first black type success with a deserved victory in the G3 Sweynesse Stakes at Rotorua.The daughter of our young stallion Embellish, who had previously placed in the G2 Auckland Guineas and Listed Challenge Stakes, left her weight-for-age rivals struggling in her wake at the end of the 1215 metre contest.The mare followed the outstanding winning lead at Te Rapa of G1 Livamol Classic winner Snazzytavi and El Castello, who took an impressive step toward top-flight targets when he triumphed in the G3 Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill.“She’s probably just fulfilling the promise she’s shown as a three-year-old, a few things went wrong so this is very pleasing,” private trainer Lance Noble said.“She is a great advertisement for Embellish, and it tops off a great weekend for Cambridge Stud.”Luberon is now unbeaten in two appearances this preparation following her gallant first-up win at Ellerslie in Rating 75 company and a rise in class at Rotorua was completed in style.She settled behind the leading pack before improving widest across the top and comfortably slipped into overdrive for Warren Kennedy in the run home to score by a widening 2.8l and her fifth victory from 10 outings.“Since we’ve brought her back to the sprints, I think she’s found her niche,” Kennedy said.“Lance put those cheek pieces on her and it’s done the trick, they went at a good pace up front and she was a little bit fierce for me.“When she saw daylight, she’s picked them up really quickly and easily, it was just a hands and heels ride.”Luberon is a daughter of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Elegant Achiever, whose pedigree page includes the European Group winners Wunder’s Dream, Grecian Dancer, Muffri’ha, Asymetric and Mill Stream on her pedigree page.Elegant Achiever’s half-brother to Embellish named Ginza was purchased by Te Akau’s David Ellis for $80,000 at Karaka last year.The mare also a two-year-old son of Embellish, So We Go, and the mare is due to foal to Almanzor.