Stromberg Carlson has bridged the gap between Queensland’s Gladfield Valley and Western Australia.  The Raheen Stud sire forged a winning connection in the Sunspeed State with Sound System and he struck again with Lucy Lamplady last Sunday.

Sound System and Lucy Lamplady are members of Stromberg Carlson’s second crop.  He’s a son of Redoute’s Choice and stands at the Nolan family’s stud alongside Flemington G3 winner Publishing (Testa Rossa).

Sound System (3g Stromberg Carlson – Sarani by Sanction) was a $10,000 buy from Raheen at the 2009 Magic Millions QTIS 600 yearling sale for Ascot owner-trainer Quona Cooke.  He completed a hat-trick during Belmont’s winter season and just missed black-type when fourth in the LR Placid Ark Stakes at his home track on Railway Stakes day.

Lucy Lamplady won second time out at Bunbury last Sunday and trainer Vaughn Sigley will now take her to Ascot.  “I didn’t do much with her before Bunbury so there’s still plenty of improvement to come,” Sigley predicted.  “She doesn’t overdo it in the morning but really puts in on raceday.”

Lucy Lamplady (3f Stromberg Carlson – Irish Stylet by Curravilla) was passed-in by owner-breeder Steve Hoare at the 2009 Perth Magic Millions yearling sale.  He asked Sigley to pre-train the youngster after taking her back home to Rivercrest Stud at Boyanup.

Sigley felt confident enough to make an offer for the Stromberg Carlson filly after educating her at Lark Hill.  “She was a plain type but showed ability early on,” Sigley recalled.  “I got a few mates together and kept a share myself.”

Sigley is making a great fist of training after a successful career in the saddle.  He was apprenticed to Lindsay Rudland and later teamed up with the likes of Wally Mitchell to ride numerous feature winners in Perth.

Lucy Lamplady did everything bar win when she raced first-up at Northam on October 24.  Pat Carberry attacked the leaders in the early stages and then kicked her clear in the straight.  She looked home but was blind-sided by Navarda Lad who railed up to score by a half-length.

That conditioner set up an early kill and she responded at Bunbury.  Carberry took a sit behind Cool Zero and Caldo and then peeled three wide on the corner.  They balanced up, stole a winning break and were still strong at the end of 1100 metres.

“Pat reckons she will get 1200m, no problem,” Sigley said.  “We looked at her pedigree and Jacks Or Better and Devilish Dealer were right at the top of the page.”

Jacks Or Better won the 1994 Karrakatta Plate when it was a Group 1 and he was also a Railway Stakes regular with four appearances in Ascot’s big mile.  He won it in 1995 and was runner-up to Machine Gun Tom in 1998.

Devilish Dealer won the G2 WA Guineas at his fifth start before injury intervened.

Lucy Lamplady’s dam Irish Stylet won 6 races up to 1350m in South Australia and Queensland.  She threw three winners in Sunshine State and was in foal to Stromberg Carlson when Hoare bought her for $7,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Winter Sale.  

Stromberg Carlson has generated 30 winners of 50 races from his first two crops racing.  Raheen stands him for a $4,400 (inc gst) service fee.