Bush trip sparks Lily My Girl into form

Wednesday 27 August 2014, 5:07pm

A homecoming trip for trainer Pat Duff has proved a catalyst for the improved form of his mare Lily My Girl.

The five-year-old continued her consistent vein of form with a victory at Ipswich on Wednesday, six weeks after she posted a narrow victory in the Queensland country town of Wondai, 200km north of Brisbane.

"Maybe she felt if she raced better in town she would never have to go back to Wondai," Duff said.

"That's a bit cruel but she certainly has taken a step up since she made the trip."

The Duff family has a close association with Wondai where various members of the clan have raced horses for more than 100 years.

"Lily My Girl won the QTIS bonus race that day and it was a homecoming for me because I first started training in that area," Duff said.

Since her trip to the bush, Lily My Girl has notched two city placings and was an unlucky sixth at Eagle Farm on August 16.

"I don't usually say things like this but I really though she was a 6-4 chance today," Duff said.

A storm which drenched Ipswich late in the day helped noted mudlark Royal Shout return to the winner's circle with an easy victory in the seventh race.

Royal Shout, who was first-up, had not won since August last year but had run seven minor placings since then.

"When I first got him he won a race like Bernborough on a wet track," trainer Tony Sears said.

"But he has been frustrating since."

– AAP

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