Lux Libertas has come close in several stakes races, but she was able to shed her bridesmaid tag at Trentham on Saturday when taking out the Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).

The five-year-old mare was first-up since her runner-up performance in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) in June, and she was kept safe by punters as a $6.60 third elect.

She jumped away well under leading Central Districts hoop Bruno Queiroz, who gave her a beautiful trip in the one-one position before finding clear running room at the top of the straight.

Race favourite Marotiri Molly kicked clear at the turn, but Lux Libertas took chase and was able to slowly wear down the pacemaker in the concluding stages to win by a long neck.

“It was a really good ride by Bruno, who gave her a sweet trip, and she moved into it well,” said Andrew Scott, who trains the mare in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan.

“She had been building to this for a good while. Through her last preparation she was close in a couple of big ones and it is good that she is a stakes-winning mare now.”

The daughter of Almanzor was set to resume at Te Rapa last week, but was withdrawn after she drew an unsuitable alley, and Scott was glad they played the patient game with their mare.

“We have taken our time. We scratched her from last Saturday with the wide gate,” he said. “To (owners) Peter (Sain) and Kylie (Bax) with their patience to sit in another week and head down the line (to Trentham).

“She deserved it and it was a really good effort from all of the team to have her fit and ready to go with such a long break between runs.”

Scott and O’Sullivan are now left pondering their next move with Lux Libertas.

“We need to sit down and work it out,” Scott said. “She is reasonably high in the ratings now, so hopefully there are some nice fillies and mares races through the summer.”

Bred by Blandford Lodge principals Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax, in partnership with Elsdon Park principal Lib Petagna, Lux Libertas is out of stakes performer Miss Fi, a half-sister to stakes winner Peaceful.

Lux Libertas is raced by the Bax’s daughter Kylie’s Goldeye Trust in partnership with Sain, and she has gone on to win six of her 18 starts to date, including placings in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Tauranga Classic, and has accrued nearly $285,000 in earnings.