OTI’s General Manager, Shayne Driscoll, counts down his Top 10 Memorable Moments across the 2023/24 Racing Season.
Number 1 – Lady Laguna lights it up
A summer campaign that had brought Lady Laguna three quality wins and two 2nd-placings led trainer Annabel Neasham to contest this 1300m Group 1 feature – a level of racing she’d not previously been successful at.
She would go into the race the fourth fancy. She had the benefit of being hard-fit, but key rivals Think About It (first up) and Espiona (2nd-Up) had been there and done that before. With an early move from Think About It, the pressure was on early and Lady Laguna received a beautiful cart into the race. Letting down with powerful strides, our mare proved too strong.
Her story is well documented. Purchased from the paddock as a yearling, she has now won over $2m. As importantly for owners, she could return more than that again as a broodmare when her race career ends. Hers is a memorable story, and this was a most memorable victory.
She will race on in the 2024/25 season. A positive first-up run could see an Everest invitation extended. We can dream!
Find OTI’s top 10 highlights of the 2023/24 season below.
Read highlight Number 2 – Warmonger’s Walk in the Park, here.
Read highlight Number 3 – Mark Twain secures his Melbourne Cup ticket, here.
Read highlight Number 4 – Dockland’s G1 2nd-placing at Royal Ascot, here.
Read highlight Number 5 – Sevenna’s Knight’s successive Group victories, here.
Read highlight Number 6 – Cepheus’ Sizzling Spring, here.
Read highlight Number 7 – 100 Up!, here.
Read highlight Number 8 – Glorious Group double at Rosehill, here.
Read highlight Number 9 – Amade’s Adelaide Cup Adventure, here.
Read highlight Number 10 – Femminile Flies Late, here.