Laffalong to perform on the big stage

 
Laffalong to perform on the big stage27 Oct 2021

Progressive mare Laffalong will carry our hopes at Flemington on November 4 following her dominant victory at Bendigo this afternoon.

The daughter of All Too Hard swept down the outside to win her heat of the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series and book her spot in the A$500,000 final on Oaks Day.

“Congratulations to Cambridge Stud, it’s great to have the support of such a powerhouse operation,” Ballarat trainer Nigel Blackiston said.

“We came here confident after she ran a nice race in the Group Three, she was in good order.”

Laffalong, who has now won four of her 11 starts, finished out of the money in the G3 Ladies’ Day Vase at Caulfield and took advantage of a significant drop back in class at Bendigo.

Regular rider Michael Dee let it all unfold in front of him, dropping back to last from the outside gate before improving three wide near the turn and Laffalong let down powerfully to sail past her rivals.

“She often makes my job pretty easy and there was good tempo and it all worked out perfectly,” he said.

Laffalong was a AU$260,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase from the draft of breeder Tyreel Stud.

She is the first foal of the winning Zabeel mare Smiles For Layla, who is a half-sister to the G2 Light Fingers Stakes winner Adrift and to the Karaka Million winner Xiong Feng.

Their dam Stray is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Maldivian and also the family of the G2 Sheraco Stakes winner Entriviere.