Lempicka is a longshot in Saturday’s Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville, but Kasey Keys is taking inspiration from what last year’s race did for Another Award.
That daughter of Shamus Award was one of the roughies in the 1200-metre Group 1 but ran second and, after another trip to the runner-up stall in The Goodwood, was sold for $1.2 million via Inglis Digital.
Lempicka, who is out of a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner In Her Time, will next month be offered for sale at the Chairman’s Sale in Sydney on May 9.
That means Sangster Stakes will almost certainly be Lempicka’s final start for Keys and her co-trainer father Ken and Kasey thinks the Rich Enuff five-year-old is deserving of a throw at the stumps in a Group 1.
“You know she’s going to give 100 percent each time and I just felt we owed it to her to give her a crack at one of these good races,” Keys said.
“It’ll be hard for me to part with her, we’ve seen everything with her, and it will definitely be a special moment at the sales anyway.”
Lempicka’s only taste of Group 1 racing came in this year’s Oakleigh Plate, when she enjoyed little luck but was beaten less than four lengths.
The Sangster Stakes has had a significant impact the bloodstock market since attaining Group 1 status in 2005.
Snapdancer, the 2022 winner, sold for $3.2m at last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, two years after Bella Vella sold for $1.9m at the same sale.
Response, the 2011 champion, has produced four yearlings who have sold for a least $1m, including $1.7m filly Estijaab, winner of the 2018 Golden Slipper.
Spright, Shoals, Miracles Of Life, Platelet, Rostova and Alinghi are other Sangster Stakes winners who have produced seven-figure yearlings.
Lempicka does not boast the race record of any of those mares but is enjoying a career-best season, in which she has landed four of her seven wins, including Listed success in last year’s Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield.
Keys knows the Sangster Stakes is a step up for Lempicka, who has not raced outside Victoria, but she has seen enough since her last-start Flemington second placing to suggest she will acquit herself well under regular rider Blaike McDougall from barrier four.
“That will be a query, because she’s never left home, but given her demeanour I think she’ll cope with it fine,” Keys said of the trip to Adelaide.
“She’s just showed terrific form this prep, Blaike rode her on Tuesday morning and he was really happy with her, so it’s all system go.”
Lempicka is one of two $1 million Group 1 runners at Morphettville for the Keys family, who also have Bon Hoffa filly Bon Mistress engaged in the Australasian Oaks (2000m).