Willie and Jim Giumelli with Shannon Suvaljko after Water Lou's win int he Daintys Daughter Country Classic at Pinjarra Photo by Photography by Jodie Hallows
“She just seems to be getting better and better, stronger and stronger.”
For a brief moment two-and-a-half weeks ago, she caused plenty of anguish for trainer Mike Reed, but within 24 hours she was back on track and yesterday at Pinjarra, star three-year-old Water Lou claimed the $35,000 Alabar Dainty’s Daughter Country Classic.
The win came as no surprise, starting at $1.12 odds, with punters confident that she was the quality of the race, but Mike Reed is adamant he wouldn’t swap his filly for any other horse.
Water Lou has had 23 starts now for 18 wins and 2 placings, with her stakes just shy of $350,000 not including the westbred bonuses on offer.
At her last start at Gloucester Park on June 28, she was gone at the front of the field with a lap to go, with on course vets discovering that she had fibrillated.
“I got up the next morning at 4am and went down and checked her and it was still out, and she hadn’t touched her food or her water which is unusual,
“So, I called our vet, and he came out at 7am and he rung me and said it had gone back automatically on its own,
“I gave her five days off, jogged her for four or five days and took her trials and she trialled good, and then she won yesterday,
“Kevin Keys just rung me and said she licked the bowl clean and had a big drink last night, so she’s back on track.”
Water Lou will now have a quick freshen up before Reed sets her towards the Gr3 $50,000 Daintys Daughter Classic on September 20, the Gr2 $100,000 Westbred Classic for the 3YO Fillies on Friday September 27, and ultimately the $150,000 Gr1 WA Oaks on Friday, October 4.
Ragazzo Mach is causing plenty of heartache for Reed, with the six-year-old once again going amiss, pulling up after his trial on May 26 with a hairline fracture of the sesamoid joint.
Reed reported that he's had four weeks off now but will require a further three months before they reassess the gelding, hopeful he will be able to put the FFA gelding back into work after that time.
With Water Lou heading for a freshen up, all eyes will be on Lion Queen as she heads to trials this Sunday at Byford.
All going well, she will race the following Friday at Gloucester Park.
