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By Ray Hickson

Spicy Lu is the Group 1 prospect that’s come out of nowhere and is testament to the saying a horse doesn’t know what they cost.

Trainer Nick Olive (Pic: Bradley Photos)

It was a change of mind at the yearling sales that led Olive to spend $30,000 on Spicy Lu and regardless of her performance in the Group 1 $1m Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday it was a shrewd move.

She’s unbeaten in three starts, returning $139,700 already, and on the back of her Fernhill win, which followed victories at Cowra and Albury, there’s nothing to lose.

“She did a good job the other day and it’s a big jump in a couple of starts,’’ he said.

“If you’re spending 30 grand, anyone thinking you’re buying a Group 1 horse are probably kidding themselves.

“She was very athletic, a nice moving filly. That was what I liked the most. I was keen on another Tagaloa when I got to the sales and I ended up looking at her and I switched because I liked her more.

“You can’t see what’s inside a horse, their will to win and that sort of thing, it’s hard to pick that at the sales.”

An all the way win in the Fernhill gives Spicy Lu, $16 with TAB on Wednesday, the chance to emulate Broadsiding who won the Champagne on the seven day back up from that race last year.

Olive, whose lone Group 1 win to date came nine years ago with Single Gaze in the Vinery, said the Fernhill win tells him that his filly is in the game but he also realises the Champagne is going to be a harder task.

“I go in reserved but (last week) definitely raised our hopes,’’ he said.

“You always wonder how the formlines are going to match up but we knew she was going well.

“She’s unbeaten and every time we’ve stepped her up to the plate she’s been up to the challenge so you go in with the confidence of that.

“The Sires’ form is the A1 form and you’ve got to line up against that. I don’t know where her limit is yet, that’s the exciting thing.”

What the Queanbeyan trainer would like to see is something else want to take up the running.

While Spicy Lu was able to get control in the Fernhill, and get some cheap sectionals, he’s adamant that leading is not a scenario where she’ll produce her best.

“She got lost the other day, she never really flattened out like we know she can,’’ he said.

“Rachel (King) said the same thing, that she did it on raw ability.

“I’m looking forward to seeing her in a race that’s properly run and I think she will be more effective.

“She’ll thrive more on that, she’s a tough thing and I think she’s looking for more than a mile.”

Stablemate Midnight Affair has accepted for the TAB Highway (1400m) though Olive will have to wait to see if she gains a start as third emergency.

Spicy Lu wins the Fernhill at Randwick

He said he’d have preferred a softer barrier so has the option to wait for another day as he feels she’s been racing exceptionally well since joining his stable.

The mare was a winner at Bathurst in early March and has been runner-up at Wagga and Dubbo at her past two starts.

“She’s been very honest, she’s been beaten in a couple of close ones,’’ he said.

“She’s been a really good addition to the stable and there’s definitely more wins in her.”

All the fields, form and replays for All Aged Stakes Day at Randwick