Trainer Stephen Theodore has an understandably high opinion of talented mare Lady Lakshmi and has revealed he will target black type success in Tasmania with the four-year-old over her autumn preparation.
Lady Lakshmi will return to racing at Moonee Valley this weekend. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Securing a commendable race record of five wins and six minor places from her 22 competitive starts so far, Lady Lakshmi began her most recent campaign through the Spring Racing Carnival in positive fashion; running third in a minor over 1200m first-up before charging home to win the Poyser Isuzu Trucks BM90 (1400m) on October 29th.
Having returned for a brief spell following disappointing performances for 12th in the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) and seventh in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m), Theodore told Racing Ahead the Lonhro mare will resume in a Fillies and Mares Handicap over 1200m at Moonee Valley on Saturday ahead of an appearance in the Group 3 Bow Mistress Stakes (1200m) at Hobart on February 6th.
“She’ll resume, she’s ticking over nicely,” Theodore said.
“There’s a little bit of rain forecast but if they got it wrong and it pours down it would certainly make me smile.
“Her target this time in is the Beau Mistress over in Tassie – to me it seems a perfect little campaign for her.
“She’ll run Saturday and then have one more in Victoria before heading over to the Apple Isle.
“I think it’s definitely a great opportunity to get a bit of black type which I think she deserves.”
Having hit the line well in a Cranbourne barrier trial last week utilizing a different running style, Theodore said he will instruct jockey Vlad Duric to settle the four-year-old off the pace first-up on Saturday.
“This time in, especially on Saturday … in a trial last week we rode her with a bit quieter than normal and she attacked the line ferociously and I just said to the owners we’ve got nothing to lose first-up and even maybe second to just to see If that tactic can be adopted race day,” he said.
“We’ll assess that once the final field and barrier draw comes out, it just might add another string to her bow.”
A standout for Theodore over the 2014 autumn, Lady Lakshmi placed a credible fourth in the Listed Matrice Stakes (1200m) before claiming minor place finishes in each of the Listed Nitschke Stakes (1400m), Group 3 JB Carr Stakes (1400m) and Listed Adelaide Guineas (1600m) most notably.
