The Group One dream remains alive for connections of Lady Lakshmi but the first priority is to get a winter stakes success with the filly.
The winner of her past two starts has been earmarked as a potential Thousand Guineas and VRC Oaks prospect and will continue her campaign at Flemington on Saturday on a path to the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) on July 6.
Saturday’s Ken Cox Handicap (1410m) for two-year-olds is a heat of the Taj Rossi Series and the daughter of Lonhro is already a winner of another race in the series at Flemington last start.
“The first goal for a horse like her with her pedigree is to get some black type,” David Feek, who trains in partnership with David Brideoake, said.
“After her last win we decided to target her at that Listed race and although no race is easy to win, it’s going to be weaker than a spring race.
“If we’ve still got a decent horse on our hands then we can keep her at the farm for a freshen-up and have a go at the spring.”
Feek believes the filly will get a mile-and-a-half (2400m), opening up the option of going to the Group One VRC Oaks via the Thousand Guineas.
“We’ll live the dream. You’ve got to,” he said.
Lady Lakshmi had two unplaced spring starts behind Villa Verde and returned from a spell with a first-up win on a heavy track at Sandown last month.
She then jumped from 1000m to 1400m and scored again by 1-1/2 lengths at Flemington.
“We’ve always thought she had good ability and I think last start she showed a lot of class,” Feek said.
Daniel Stackhouse retains the ride on Saturday while Chris Symons has been booked to partner stablemate Ominous Quality in a 1410m race for mares.
Ominous Quality was disappointing on face value first-up when 10th in a race at Flemington but will be out to bounce back with an improved showing second-up.
The four-year-old is a city winner and finished fourth in the Listed Aspiration Quality in Sydney at the end of her last campaign.
“Her goal is to get another city win,” Feek said.
