Hallalulu in cheeky form after her Nottingham win
Hallalulu delivered us our 20th winner of the year when battling home under Luke Morris in the mile maiden at Nottingham yesterday.
Racing in the first two or three early on, Luke asked Hallalulu for more shortly after turning for home, and quickly passed long-time leader Yellow Fire and engaged favourite Strawberry Fire in a head to head battle. That duel was won inside the final furlong, but apprentice of the moment Jason Watson delivered One To Go with a late surge, and Hallalulu had to stick her neck out all the way to the line, holding on by a hard fought neck. It was an incredibly game and willing effort from our filly.
A daughter of Kyllachy, Hallalulu was getting off the mark at the fourth attempt and on her first start in handicap company. She had been given a mark of 61, following three efforts in six furlong novices. Although not beating many home, she didn’t go without some promise in those races, and she was always going to improve for a step up in trip.
She is out of the Motivator mare Cat O’ Nine Tails, who won over a mile and a half and stayed as far as two miles. The mare’s previous progeny include our three-time winner Al Nafoorah, who was a pacier type than Hallalulu, but still needed a mile to show her best form. Hallalulu may yet be a filly that wants even further in time, but it was so exciting for everyone at the yard to see her get a win at this early stage of her career and hopefully the best is yet to come. She is housed just a box away from Roxy Art, who won at Chelmsford on Saturday. As you can see from the picture, the inhabitants of that corner of the yard are feeling quite pleased with themselves! The colts and geldings need to up their game.
We send our warmest congratulations to Hallaululu’s owner Mohammed Jaber, jockey Luke Morris, and thank all the staff in the yard for their incredible hard work.