A weekend double for Ballymore

An easy win on Saturday for the promising Lady Lorne, the lightly raced three-year-old relishing a step up in distance to break her maiden in impressive fashion at Stony Creek.

Having only her fourth start, and her first at the mile, the up-and-coming daughter of O’Reilly showed a good turn of foot for Rhys McLeod – suggesting that the best is still to come.

A $170,000 Karaka filly selected by Paul Moroney, Lady Lorne is raced by Lorne Bloodstock, Maybe This Time, Ballymore Stables Australia, Manfred & Michael Krauser, Rodney Green, Quantum, Con Tangalakis, Global Racing and Elmo De Alwis.

A well related mare, she is out of the Danehill mare Danadevi, a full sister to the Golden Slipper winner Ha Ha. Her grandam is the Vanity Stakes winner Very Droll, ¾ sister to another Slipper champ in Rory’s Jester.

Handsome chestnut Itimio looks set for a good campaign on the back of an impressive first up victory at Cranbourne on Sunday.

Having his first run since a Gold Coast win in early August, the patiently handled four-year-old was expected to be improved by the run – which suggests that there is plenty more to come.

Always travelling well off pace along the rails, Itimio was eased out in the straight by Craig Newitt – quickly making up ground out wide before racing away by 1.3 lengths.

In the past the son of Flying Spur has improved with racing and he will no doubt be better for the run – so watch out again next time!

Raced by the Oti 2005 syndicate (managers Simon O'Donnell and Terry Henderson), John Higgins, Cameron Williams, Brendan Danaher, Robert Pascoe, Peter Wright, Rupert Legh, Tat Cork, the 3d syndicate and Dycer Racing, Itimio has now won three of 11.

A Magic Millions $80,000 purchase bred by Glastonbury Farm & Arrowfield Stud, Itimio is out of the unraced Bigstone mare Evirene, half sister to the Gr.1 winner Sakana and the Gr.3 winner Rohatyn from the family of the champion juvenile and successful stallion Pago Pago.