Unbeaten Tasmanian filly Lady Jane has earned a chance to emulate her dam by chasing a victory in Melbourne.
The Royston Carr-trained three-year-old faces her biggest test in Saturday’s Pack A Picnic Plate (1100m) at Flemington.
Lady Jane is out of Kats Clause who was also trained by Carr and won four times in Melbourne including a Mannerism Stakes during her eight-win career.
Kats Clause recorded a Flemington win in 2005 over 1100m and Carr said Lady Jane, winner of her three starts in Tasmania, had similarities with her dam and would have to rate up with her at the same stage.
“Her mum is a grey mare and she’s the only grey foal that she’s thrown so far,” Carr said.
“She’s got the right attitude to racing like her mum did too.”
Lady Jane arrived in Melbourne on Friday morning after an overnight ferry trip across Bass Strait.
The filly’s strapper told Carr Lady Jane handled the trip well.
“She arrived in good health, so it’s all good at this stage,” Carr said.
“It’s a hell of a hurdle for them to overcome.
“It’s like having a race two days before they race. It’s a fair trip.
“She travelled from Brighton, where we are, up to Devonport yesterday (by float) which is a three-hour trip and then she was on the boat for about nine hours last night.”
Lady Jane, by Dreamscape, only made her debut last month and has won a maiden and class one at Launceston and then a class two at Hobart.
“She has been plagued with problems over her life, mostly self-inflicted because she’s a fairly highly strung filly,” Carr said.
“She’s done a great job since she started racing.”
Lady Jane’s owner-breeder John Burke wants to give her the chance in Melbourne to hopefully boost her future broodmare value, and the trainer said the filly had earned her chance.
Craig Williams has the ride on Lady Jane, a $17 outsider in betting.
The unbeaten Wawail, a Listed winner in the spring, is the $2.50 favourite.
