News

Double up for Liberty's Gem

7th Dec 2014

Classy three-year-old Liberty’s Gem claimed the second leg of a feature double when leading all the way in today’s $150,000 Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) at Ascot.

Two weeks after taking out the Placid Ark Stakes (1200m), Liberty’s Gem produced a replica performance to give trainer Simon Miller his third Lee-Steere Classic victory in four years.

Victorian jockey Ben Melham fired Liberty’s Gem ($4) straight to the lead from barrier three and shot him clear early in the straight.

Outlaw Pete ($3.60 favourite) and Hobart Jones ($5), who gained a dream inside run, loomed as big dangers inside the final 150m.

But Liberty’s Gem kicked strongly to hold the talented duo off by half a length.

Outlaw Pete nosed out Hobart Jones for second place in a photo.

Miller, who won the Group 3 feature with Hard Ball Get (2012) and Night War (2011), has a big opinion of Liberty’s Gem.

Significant Hong Kong offers for the three-year-old, a winner at three of four starts, were rejected last week.

“He’s still a work in progress. It’s only his first prep,” Miller said.

“I’ll put him out now, he’s done his job.

“We’ll just figure out where we go with him. I’m not too sure at the moment.

“I’ve got Hong Kong barrelling me (with offers) and now they’ll be even bigger again.”