Col ‘N’ Lil has continued her smart run of form with an impressive start-to-finish win in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m) at Eagle Farm this afternoon.

Col ‘N’ Lil, pictured winning in 2016, was impressive in this afternoon’s Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup. Photo: Daniel Costello

The Toowoomba mare jumped from the gates well this afternoon and after taking a position behind I’m Belucci through the first 400m, was led to the pace by Jockey Jeff Lloyd approaching the bend and set a fair tempo for her rivals.

Offered a clear racing line upon arriving at the final straight, the Bradbury’s Luck mare kicked clear before she was joined on pace by Godolphin runner Duca Valentinois, but dug deep to find the line a half-length in the clear.

Lloyd’s ride was arguably the difference in the Lord Mayor’s Cup, but the veteran hoop was quick to lay the praise on trainer Ben Currie, as well as the class of his talented mount.

“It was a great training effort to bring her back and freshen her up a bit,” Lloyd said.

“She loves these conditions and the track was suited to her today.

“I’m Belucci dropped off and she (Col ‘N’ Lil) was travelling really well. She gave me a nice kick and faught off Godolphin’s horse.

“I was very pleased and she was really tough.”

Currie was thrilled with Col ‘N’ Lil’s performance for success in the Lord Mayor’s Cup and is confident that she will only improve with the run.

“She’s always been a good mare – she raced against the best at three and she’s come back a better horse as an older mare,” he said.

“She got through that ground really well and it was obvious a great ride by Jeff.

“We just wanted momentum coming out of the corner and she’s won over 2000m previously in some good races, so we were confident she’d run the mile out really strong.

“We wanted to get off and going in the corner and make them chase us and she was always travelling, so it’s good when a plan comes off.

“I thought we were in a little bit of trouble at the furlong, but when she gets in those dog fights like that, she’s so tough.

In being named the Lord Mayor’s Cup winner, Col ‘N’ Lil has now posted eight wins and a further thirteen minors through her thirty-five career starts.