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Lepreezy on trial for a return Brisbane campaign

18 May 2020

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By Glenn Davis

Star central Queensland filly Lepreezy has overcome a minor setback and is ready to return to her best form ahead of a Brisbane campaign when she runs in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap at Callaghan Park in Rockhampton on Tuesday.

Lepreezy was due to start at Rockhampton in mid-April but her comeback was delayed after trainer Angela Stephens discovered she had a high temperature.

“She had a bug and a high temperature so we decided against running her and waited a few weeks,” Stephens said.

“We possibly could have run her but it was going to be her last run before a break so we just pulled up stumps then.”

Lepreezy has not raced since finishing eighth to the Kelly Schweida-trained The Odyssey in the QTIS Jewel at the Gold Coast on March 14.

It was the first time she had raced beyond 1100 metres and only the second time in her career that she missed a place.

The Better Than Ready filly had an impressive strike rate of six wins and three placings in 10 starts prior to her trip south.

“She missed the start when Joe Bowditch rode her in The Jewel and she’s never done that in her life,” Stephens said.

“I expected her to be running about second and she also copped a couple of checks in the run.”

Lepreezy has been ridden throughout her career by Stephens’ husband, jockey John Stephens.

Apart from The Jewel, the only time John Stephens wasn’t aboard was when he was sidelined with a broken heel when she won at Mackay for former South African rider Girish Goomany in February.

John Stephens will miss riding Lepreezy for only the third time, with apprentice Emma Bell booked to partner the filly after she received topweight of 62.5kgs for the 1050-metre dash.

Stephens is planning to send Lepreezy to Brisbane for two three-year-old races next month.

“There’s a 1000-metre race on Stradbroke day she’ll run in provided she goes well tomorrow and then there’s a 1200 metre race for fillies and mares two weeks after that,” she said.

The Stephens stable was reluctant to name a threat to Lepreezy recording her seventh win from 12 starts.

“When she was due to run last time, I thought Boss Baby was her biggest danger and when she didn’t run Boss Baby won by four lengths,” Stephens said.

“I can’t see any real danger this time as Boss Baby is meeting us worse at the weights.”

Racing Queensland webnews - May 18