Luxmi victory helps Hurrell to winning treble at Winton

By Jonny Turner 

Horse transport operators are on standby following Luxmi's victory at Winton on Thursday.

The three-year-old cleared out for a deserved victory after a string of placings and a very unlucky effort in her last start.

The victory was another good result for trainer Darren Keast and his satellite stable at Ascot Park.

The barn was set up around two years ago to complement the operation Keast runs for his grandparents Paul and Pauline Renwick in Canterbury.

"I brought a couple of horses down south and it was around the time I had Bettor Fortune down there that we came up with the idea," Keast said. 

"The racing down south really suits our horses."

"We have a lot of two and three-year-olds and a lot of fillies that are being kept for breeding."

"There are a lot of opportunities for them down there and it just suits our horses."

While Keast is often in the south with his horses he can leave them in very reliable hands with Brent Shirley.

"We are a team and Brent has become an important member of the team."

"You know the horses are in great hands with him and he has got a huge amount of knowledge."

"He's done a super job with this mare and deserves all of the credit."

Luxmi may get the chance to follow in the footsteps of her dam following her Winton win.

Lusianabelle Midrew won a host of good races during her career including a Nevele R Fillies Series heat.

"We might throw our hat in the ring for one of the last two Nevele R heats."

"We will have a bit of a talk about it and come up with a plan."

"She probably deserves a go to see if she's up to those better fillies.”

“If not, she could have a bit of a let-up."

While Luxmi may head to one of those two heats in Canterbury, Keast is certain more horses head in the opposite direction to his southern base in the coming week and months.

The trainer isn't exactly sure which ones will come south as he works them up and towards the races in Canterbury.

Luxmi was expertly driven by Mark Hurrell, who ended a frustrating run with a winning treble at Winton.

Though he is enjoying his best season as an open driver, Hurrell hadn't had a winner since he bagged three in a day at Ascot Park in July.

The reinsman won Thursday's opener with the Brian Norman trained Delightingold, before reining home Jay Jay Denario for Chelsea Faithful.