It was almost 40 years ago when the star and much-loved pacer Rufus Young Blood made the long trip from Beeac to Brisbane to really kick-start his stunning career.
Now Courtney Slater, also based an hour-west of Geelong at Beeac, is about to do the same with potentially the best pacer she has trained, the untapped Luvtobeuptome in the $150,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby on July 18.
The late Dick Lee trained and drove Rufus Young Blood to win the 1987 Queensland Derby in one greatest Derby wins anywhere of all time. He and David Aiken’s Gay Adam, engaged in a two-horse war before Lee’s star prevailed by a whisker. They beat the rest by a staggering 50m.
Rufus Young Blood went on to win 32 races and earn a then thumping $518,297. He was an icon around the Western Districts of Victoria and a people’s favourite Australia-wide.
“We’re based just down the road from where Dick’s place used to be,” Slater said.
Just like Lee, Slater hopes the trip will be the making of the lightly raced but immensely exciting Luvtobeuptome, who has raced just 12 times for four wins, four seconds and three thirds.
The colt ran monstrous races when second in the Vicbred and third in the Breeders Crown finals as a two-year-old late last year.
Not deterred by chasing home stars from the powerful Emma Stewart and Clayton, along with Mick Stanley stables in their own state, Slater is excited about trying to beat them interstate.
“I guess you feel a bit like David against Goliath taking on the big stables at times, but we did it so well and so bravely late last year and we’re definitely going to Brisbane to give it another crack,” she said.
Luvtobeuptome returned from a long spell in style when he upstaged the Stewart and Tonkin-trained Most Exciting at Melton last Saturday week.
He will have to do the same, albeit against a Stewart and Tonkin-trained stablemate in Dynamitedan, when he steps out again at Melton on Saturday night.
“He’s drawn inside us and they like to lead and dominate their races, so we’ll have to sit outside him or maybe take a sit and try and finish over him. We haven’t thought about tactics yet,” Slater said.
But “backing” their colt is something Slater, her husband Mark Driscoll, and owners Peter and Julie Lewis have already done plenty of.
“Yes, when he ran those big races last year, the phone ran hot,” Slater said. “There was lots of money (in offers) thrown around, but Peter and Julie said they’re in game to find a horse like this, race it and enjoy it, which is great for us.
“They bred the colt. Peter bought them dam (Luvthisone) as a yearling and this is her first foal on the ground.”
But Slater stopped short of saying he’s the best horse she has trained.
“Not yet. He’s the fastest, but Goodtime Heaven is still the benchmark. He won’t overtake her until he’s gone out and done what she did,” she said.
Goodtimeheaven won 15 of just 31 starts, including the 2019 Group 1 NSW Breeders 4YO final. at Menangle. She also ran second in one of Victoria’s biggest mares’ race, the 2020 Group 1 Ladyship Cup (now Queen of the Pacific) behind star Kiwi mare Belle Of Montana.
Slater, 48, has trained 229 winners and Goodtime Heaven is one of her two Group 1 winners. The other was trotter Fremarkspoetry in the 2018 Vicbred 3YO final.
The unheralded Josh Duggan has driven Luvtobeuptome in every start and will keep the reins in Brisbane.
“Josh has been very loyal to us and he’s underrated. He knows the horse inside out and it’s a united team effort with this horse,” Slater said.
