Trainer Enver Jusufovic indicated that New York Lustre has likely only three more races left before she is retired to the breeding barn.
Her next outing is scheduled for Saturday in the Brian Beattie Handicap over 1100 metres at Flemington.
Following this, New York Lustre is slated to compete in two ‘Black Type’ events: the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) on July 11 and the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) two weeks thereafter. Last year, the mare secured second place in the former and fourth in the latter, both contests held at Caulfield.
Jusufovic confirmed that New York Lustre is already booked to be served by the multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Tentyris during the upcoming breeding season.
The mare boasts an unblemished record across two starts on the Flemington straight, with her most recent victory being in the Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes (1100m) last spring.
This current campaign has seen Jusufovic travel twice to Adelaide. New York Lustre commenced her season with a third-place finish in the Group 3 John Hawkes Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville, followed by a fourth in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at her latest appearance on May 9.
“She was probably in the wrong part of the track on the inside last time,” Jusufovic stated. “There were probably a few hard luck stories, but if there was speed from the gates drawn inside, I think she would have got into a lot more favourable position and not have been hemmed in there on the fence and pushed to the slower going. Group 1 races, you need everything to go your way to win, and in the end, she was only three-quarters-of-a-length off the winner. After Saturday she’ll go to the Sir John Monash and the Bletchingly and then she’ll go off to stud as she’s already booked to go to Tentyris.”
New York Lustre has accumulated six victories from her 16 career starts. Jusufovic conveyed that the impending retirement of the nearly seven-year-old mare would be a difficult moment.
“I think she’s still improving actually, and it will be sad to see her retired,” Jusufovic remarked. “But (owner) Mike Howard is a breeder, and unfortunately for me, the breeding barn beckons. Hopefully, in time, we’ll see some of the offspring come through my stable.”
With her racing days drawing to a close, New York Lustre is preparing for her final assignments before heading to the breeding barn. Punters can find competitive racing odds on all major Australian racing events at Australian betting sites.