Lilly Dazzler and Monica Croston are looking for back-to-back Flemington wins now they have tasted city success.
Lilly Dazzler won over 1800m at Flemington on July 18 and steps to 2000m for the first time in Saturday’s Leanne Sanderson & Denis Hansen Handicap for fillies and mares.
“I’m super excited for tomorrow,” Cranbourne-based Croston said.
“I think we’ll start to see the best of her now she’s stepping up to 2000 metres. I think she’s a real 2000 metres-plus horse.
“I understand there’s some nice horses in the race but I think mares’ grade is her go.”
Croston has six horses in work and Lilly Dazzler has won five of her 18 starts including metropolitan class wins at Sale and Flemington this campaign.
“It was an amazing feeling,” Croston said of winning at Flemington with Lilly Dazzler last month.
“I’ve had a lot of faith in her.”
Croston’s experience in racing before beginning her own training career included working for seven years for champion trainer Gai Waterhouse.
She is looking towards the Matriarch Stakes as a spring target for the consistent mare.
“I would like to see how she goes tomorrow and then I’m going to give her a bit of a freshen up and bring her back for a mares’ race at the end of the spring – the Matriarch Stakes,” Croston said.
“That’s the plan now that we’ve got her up to that journey.”
