Trainer Stephen Brown has a circle around a Stakes race in July that he is aiming his talented mare Lady Jones at.
The Listed VRC-CRW Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 4 has been in Brown’s planning since Lady Jones returned to work this campaign.
The Rod Griffiths Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday is another stepping stone on that path for Lady Jones as she builds her fitness.
Saturday’s race forms a part of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series and by finishing first or second, those horses become exempt from the ballot for the Final.
Brown is happy with the way Lady Jones has progressed in her three runs this campaign and believes the mare will gain added benefit from Saturday’s outing.
“She’s had three runs back and it was a good run at Flemington last time,” Brown said.
“She got to the front, but I knew she needed it, and she’s probably still going to need this one as well.
“I think when that final comes around, that’s when she’ll be at her best.”
Lady Jones has flown under the radar throughout her career.
She won the Gold Bracelet at Bendigo in April 2024 and later that year took out the Group 3 Tesio Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Returning for the autumn of 2025, Lady Jones was around the mark and Brown had high hopes for a successful spring campaign.
But her spring campaign was curtailed after one run, when sixth in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in October.
“I think we ran her with a virus, and it knocked her around a bit,” Brown said.
“We brought her back in and started on her again, but she still wasn’t right, so we had to tip her out and start again.
“She ended up being about six months between races.
“She’s going good, looks beautiful, but it’s not getting any easier for her.
“She’s getting older and we can’t really give her the hit-outs that she needs like when she was a younger horse.”
