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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

Connections of Copper Beach with the Oaks trophy

2004 WAYNE FRANCIS MEMORIAL NZ OAKS

When it comes to winning Group races with young horses in this era, few do as well and none do better than Geoff Small. He has a piercing accuracy to zero in on such events, and that's what he did with Copper Beach in the $100,000 Wayne Francis Memorial NZ Oaks.

Not among the hot fancies, not even among the warm ones, yet Copper Beach raced under her odds to win the classic by nearly two lengths from That's Life Lavra who came from the back with Imagine That. Neither got the sweet trip David Butcher gave Copper Beach.

He dreamed of a run behind Petousa just off the pace an got it. Princess Alberta made it a race for the stayers, and those around her gradually dropped off, with the exception of Copper Beach. She was full of chirp when she came off Petousa's back on the corner, and quickly turned it into a clear advantage.

"She was cruising it when I came into the corner," said Butcher. "She's always been a nice filly, and she's got a bit of bottom to her like some of the other Beach Towels in Geoff's team. And it's the first decent run she's had for a while."

Copper Beach is raced by the Les Girls No.2 Syndicate, which includes Edith Margison, from Manurewa, Annette Hudson (Pukekohe), Sharn Riley (Papakura), Joyce Walters (Waiuku), Geoff's wife Aria, and Helen Hobson from Christchurch. They bred Elsu as well as Copper Beach, who is from a Payson's Brother half-sister to the dam of Elsu. The mare Les Payzen Star has also left a 2-year-old filly by Holmes Hanover and a yearling colt by Dream Away, and was served this season by Falcon Seelster.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZHR Weekly