$2000 purchase Lyuba prevails on Derby day

Lyuba has graduated to stakes company with a narrow Derby day victory at Flemington.

The $2000 yearling purchase took her prize money past the $400,000 mark with Saturday’s Group Three Skip Sprint (1100m) win.

Ridden by Damian Lane, Lyuba ($7) scored a short-half-head win over Savanna Amour ($12) with Concealer ($12) the same margin away third.

Trainer Darren Weir said he snapped up the now five-year-old after noticing her at a 2014 Victorian yearling sale.

“I was … poking around out the back and she caught my eye,” he said.

“I didn’t take much notice of the pedigree and I bought her for $2000.

“This is one of the better stories. Don’t worry, I buy a lot for $2000 that are no good.”

Weir said he was able to put a number of his friends into the horse for a bit of fun and it’s the second time they have been successful during Cup week at Flemington.

Last year another cheapie, Speedeor, scored on Melbourne Cup day.

Weir said Lyuba rarely ran a bad race but did perform poorly at Caulfield in September in an outing too bad to be true.

“She pulled up with a bit of a problem with a back leg so we got that sorted out and her latest runs have been terrific,” Weir said.

Runner-up Savanna Amour will be spelled and brought back for autumn’s major Group One sprints.

“We know now she can run down the straight which is a plus,” said owner Grant Morgan.

“She’s had an interrupted campaign with a minor setback and then a wet track, so she’s done a good job.”