Stakes race tilt for Lustre in the Sir John Monash Stakes 2025

New York Lustre has thrived under the guidance of trainer Enver Jusufovic, who’s kept her to manageable competition, a move that has netted five wins from eight races.

This weekend, she’ll take on her first Stakes challenge in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield—a step up in class Jusufovic hopes will pay off.

A prior Stakes attempt was thwarted when she was scratched at the start of the Proud Miss Stakes after a behind-the-barriers incident left her vulnerable.

“It was a debacle there behind the barriers,” Jusufovic told RSN.

“There was a 14-minute delay. She stood there for about 10 minutes, and the Darwin horse (Dakota Lee) went off.

“She was two stalls away, but they didn’t get her out and she got kicked about six times.

“I understand why she was scratched, but she didn’t seem to take any ill-effect from it.

“She had a week off after that, went into pre-training and hopefully she’s fit enough (for Saturday).”

The mare last raced in April at Moonee Valley where she took out a benchmark 78 race, and while Jusufovic would have preferred a jump-out, she instead had a grass gallop at Cranbourne this week with Jamie Melham aboard.

“She does excel first-up,” Jusufovic said.

“In an ideal world, I would have liked to have jumped her out, but they had them on the Poly this last Monday, which is probably not the ideal surface for her, so I opted to gallop her instead.

“It is a little bit of unchartered territory (on Saturday), but she looks well, and it was a good hit-out (on Tuesday).

“She had a good blow, and she’s very bright.”

Jusufovic aims to secure some Black Type with the mare, who is approaching the end of her racing career and is set to transition into breeding under owner Mike Howard.

“She was learning to race and has been able to get that confidence and that winning feeling,” Jusufovic said.

“She’s certainly a winner, she knows where the line is, but the key has been the placement and it’s important now for Mike Howard to get some Black Type with her.

“She’s five, rising six, and Mike is an avid breeder and seller.”

Fans of betting should keep an eye on the Sir John Monash Stakes, where New York Lustre makes a compelling case stepping into Stakes company.