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RACING HISTORY

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Tidal Franco, the biggest winner in the field for the $120,000 NZ Yearling Sales Series Pace, was not the big certainty that she may have appeared under analysis. She had won the most races - three - she had won the most money - $86,932 - and the draw - one - was hardly a matter for complaint. And once she led and had it pretty much her own way, the Live Or Die filly seemed to have Addington's feature at her mercy.

It was not until That's Life Lavra came out of the pack after turning in that Tidal Franco looked vulnerable. That's Life Lavra came in for the kill less than 100 metres out, and with the formidable Tony Herlihy weilding the brush, swept past Tidal Franco to win by half a neck. there was a gap to the others, headed by Asabella.

That's Life Lavra is a Life Sign filly from Expressive Moves, an unraced mare by Nihilator owned in Victoria by Andrew McNair. She was bought for $24,000 by Kypros and Mary Kotzikas and placed with Robert Cameron, where she stayed until joining Herlihy's team for Christmas racing at Auckland. "She raced good there and ran fourth in the Oaks, without being quite up to Dudinka's Star," said Herlihy. "But she has come a long way in just five starts and I am sure she will go on with it," he said. Herlihy gave himself a winning chance some way from the finish. "I was travelling better than the favourite on the turn," he said

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 18Feb04