If Miss Leonidas can recapture her spring form, it will take her a long way to a first–up victory in the W J Adams Stakes at Caulfield.
The mare shocked punters when she split star sprinters Nature Strip and Sunlight in a Group One race at The Valley in September before winning at Group Two level.
Shaun Dwyer, the trainer of Miss Leonidas, is confident the mare is in good order for Saturday’s 1000m-race despite having to contend with equal top weight of 60kg in the Listed sprint.
“Everything’s gone pretty well this campaign,” Dwyer said.
“She’s had two jump-outs. She needed the first one and her work subsequently was good, and then her second one, John Keating got off her and said she’s back now.”
Miss Leonidas finished second to Nature Strip, with Sunlight third, in the Moir Stakes at The Valley on September 27 before winning the Group Two Caulfield Sprint (1000m) on October 19.
Dwyer conceded it was possibly not the strongest Group Two sprint, but noted the mare’s consistency.
“She’s probably raced in stronger company than the rest of this field,” Dwyer said.
“She really acquitted herself well in the Moir and then in the Group Two, and if the second and third horses were in this I’d say they would be under 10-1 as well.”
Miss Leonidas sits on the third line of betting at $8 in an open race on Saturday with Sydney visitor Splintex the $5.50 favourite.
Dwyer is planning three more starts for Miss Leonidas before she is retired.
The Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 15 or the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield the following week loom next for Miss Leonidas.
She will then head to Sydney for the Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 7 and The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 21.
“That will give her time to let down during the winter before she goes off to stud,” Dwyer said.
“We could go on to May, but in all honesty I think three or four runs maxes her out.
“Sprinting can be as tough as staying.
“They’re hammering along from go to whoa and they have to be fit first-up, so they need to have a decent prep underneath them.”
