Champion trainer Chris Waller holds a strong hand in the sole Group 1 race for mares during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Waller has Fangirl, Lazzura and Leica Lucy engaged in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Atishu took out Empire Rose Stakes honours for Waller last year while his previous success stories have been Red Tracer (2013) and Shillelagh (2018).
Waller said his three mares all enter Saturday’s race in good form and each has claims.
“I’m very happy with Fangirl after her work on Tuesday,” Waller said.
“She would be the top seed just on class alone based on what she has done throughout her career.
“She’s in the twilight zone (career wise), but she was bright and happy on Tuesday morning at Breakfast With The Stars.
“She had a good look around up the straight, but she’s ready to turn it on, on Saturday.”
Fangirl won the 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 20 before running a last start sixth in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) over the same course and distance on October 18.
Both Leica Lucy and Lazzura come through the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 18, finishing third and fifth respectively.
Waller has called on a minor gear change for Leica Lucy on the recommendation of Darren Beadman who joined the stable in August after James Cummings left Godolphin to take up a training position in Hong Kong next season.
“She lays-in quite badly and Darren Beadman suggested a one-eyed blinker,” Waller said.
“One-eyed blinkers, I have found, are always hard to work out, but having someone with his experience and getting that feedback, is fantastic.
“We put it on her and Steven Arnold rode her in work on Tuesday, and you’re going from Darren Beadman’s advice to Steven Arnold’s take, and he said she worked really well.
“It’s feedback from two great former riders.”
After successive wins at Randwick and Flemington, Waller said Lazzura was potentially ridden out of her comfort zone in the Toorak Handicap when ridden forward to hold a position.
“She had a tough run early and I think she’s better ridden off the speed a little bit and I think she’ll really love coming back to Flemington,” Waller said.
“Caulfield didn’t have a lot of luck with their tracks with the wind and dry conditions, and she felt that track and will really appreciate coming back to Flemington.”
