Lucia Valentina was initially purchased by Bruce Perry for $60,000 from the draft of Blandford Lodge at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. The Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax-bred daughter of Savabeel (Zabeel) and Staryn Glenn (Montjeu IRE) won on debut at three for trainer Stephen Marsh and after winning the Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Trentham, made her way to Australia to the yard of Kris Lees. She had 9 starts in New Zealand for 3 wins and $450,000 in Stakes earnings. However once in Australia the mare established herself as a powerful force.

Under Lees’ guidance, she distinguished herself as the Group 1 winner of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and the Turnbull Stakes (2000m). Victory would also come in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) and the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m), along with Group 1 placings in the Caulfield Cup (2400m), Ranvet Stakes (2000m), Australian Oaks (2400m) and the Underwood Stakes (1800m). Lucia Valentina went into the Caulfield Cup after an outstanding effort to win the Turnbull Stakes.

She had a training setback leading into the Turnbull then looked to be in an awkward position at the 300m, but the mare burst through a gap and finished right over the top of her rivals to win brilliantly. She was aided by a top ride from Kerrin McEvoy in the 2000m feature to add a second Group One to her resume. The 4-year-old started favourite in the 2014 Caulfield Cup but was beaten by Japanese stayer Admire Rakti and New Zealand mare Rising Romance. Her greatest win was undoubtedly the $4M Queen Elizabeth Stakes where the mare appeared momentarily unsteady entering the stretch with Damien Oliver, bobbling before finding her feet. Guided to clear running room, she unleashed a devastating turn of foot to sweep past the favourite, The United States by 2 1/4 lengths with Happy Clapper in third. 

Lucia Valentina was the Top Filly of the 2013-14 Australasian 3YO Classification (Int.), the Joint Top Filly on the 2013-14 NZ 3YO Free Handicap (1600m+), NSW Provincial Champion Horse of the Year in 2015 and boasted a World Thoroughbred Ranking of 117 in 2016.

Trainer Kris Lees learned of the passing of his former topliner Lucia Valentina in August 2024 the same day one of her last surviving foals returned to training at his Newcastle stables. Lucia Valentina has only had three foals to race, the talented Luella Cristina who was Group 1-placed in the Levin Classic last year, the best performed one. The mare has a yearling colt by Per Incanto in New Zealand. Lucia Valentina who earned more than $4.3 million prizemoney, suffered a colic attack. She was 14. The triple Group 1 winning heroine was days away from being covered in Australia by leading stallion Zoustar.

RACE RECORD - 30: 7-1-5

EARNINGS - $4,354,803

2013 G3 Wellington Stakes – Otaki

2014 G1 Vinery Stud Stakes

2014 G2 Tramway Stakes

2014 G1 Turnbull Stakes

2015 G2 Matriarch Stakes

2016 G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes

A well bred Kiwi filly, Lucia Valentina would establish herself as a powerful force on the Australian turf