The success of Lirabird has trainer Geni Gillis looking to rebuild her country stable.
Lirabird won her first two starts provincial starts before finishing second to Faction at a Flemington midweek meeting on June 10.
The three-year-old now heads to a metropolitan Saturday meeting, contesting the Kane Constructions Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
Lirabird is the only horse Seymour-based Gillis has raced this year but she has plans to gradually increase the size of her stable.
“I did have seven or eight or nine there for a while and we’re again going to build our little team now,” she said.
“I like to be on the small side so I can give them a little more of an individual approach.”
Lirabird’s recent placing at Flemington was Gillis’ first trip to town since 2011.
A $20,000 yearling sale purchase, Lirabird has already returned connections more than $40,000 in prize money which Gillis described as a bonus.
Lirabird is a rising four-year-old and Gillis has allowed her time to develop.
“We didn’t do much with her because she was such a big, immature, gangly horse so we just gave her plenty of time,” she said.
Gillis said a wide draw on a tight, turning track like Moonee Valley wasn’t ideal.
Lirabird was successful on debut at Pakenham and then scored at Bendigo before venturing to Flemington.
Danny Adam, who broke a three-year drought in the metropolitan area when successful on Our Nkwazi at the most recent Moonee Valley meeting on June 6, continues his association with the filly.
Adam has ridden her in all three starts.
Lirabird is an $11 chance with the Peter Moody-trained Herstory the $4.60 favourite.
