Five months into the job apprentice jockey Lucy Warwick completed a memorable day at Belmont with her first metropolitan Saturday victory on Celebrity Miss. Later in the day she turned it into a winning double, riding Lucciola for her father, trainer Justin Warwick.
In both races the blonde rider showed great presence. Trapped wide early on the Grant Williams trained Celebrity Miss (1200m) she quickly slotted in, midfield, and was poised to strike with that mare on the home turn. She won easily.
On Lucciola, the diminutive grey galloper, Warwick had her charge across quickly from a wide barrier to be perfectly positioned in fourth position as the field left the home straight, the first time, in the 2000m Westspeed Stayers Bonus Handicap.
Warwick left her perfect position and went wide on the home turn.It was clear on straightening for home, that she was the one to beat. Lucciola comfortably accounted for Ultimate Success and the other grey, Verdello Blue. The latter tramped three wide, after drawing the extreme outside barrier, and fought on well.
Lucciola has won at her last four races in this campaign, at mid-week and provincial meetings, with Warwick aboard.
Warwick now has 25 wins overall this season from her 166 rides for a winning strike rate of 15 per cent.
She won a treble at Dongara earlier this year.
In the long running TV comedy ‘I Love Lucy’ the real life husband and wife pair, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, enjoyed
a highly successful run.
If Warwick continues to ride fancied horses like she did yesterday her backers will no doubt be saying the same.