Promising mare Spring Lee will be on trial for a return shot at some black-type races when she resumes at the first metropolitan meeting of the new season.
The four-year-old will step out in the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1100m) on Saturday after winding up her most recent campaign with a Listed placing in the Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone in May.
Trainer Bjorn Baker is banking on the mare carrying some residual fitness from that, and as a result he has given her a lone barrier trial in preparation for her Rosehill assignment.
“She has only had the one trial, but she has got a little bit of residual fitness there, so hopefully that keeps her in good stead,” Baker said.
“It looks a good race for her.
“She has done a good job in her short career so far and she was very good last time at Scone.”
A daughter of Zoustar, who last month became just the second Australian sire after I Am Invincible to produce 200 or more winners in a season, Spring Lee has missed a place just once in seven starts.
Baker has handled her patiently and if she can kick off her latest campaign on a winning note, a start in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick on August 24 is on the radar.
“Her work at home has been very good, she galloped on Tuesday with Rachel (King) and went well there,” he said.
“She is a lovely mare, hopefully she can make that step up to stakes grade, whether it’s this time in or at some stage.
“If she happened to win on Saturday, the race we could consider is the Toy Show, but one step at a time.”
A two-time winner fresh, Spring Lee will be partnered by King and is an early $3 favourite for her Rosehill assignment.
