Karuta Queen is looking to defeat Black Caviar in the Schillaci Stakes

Neville Layt’s hopes of being the one to beat Black Caviar with Karuta Queen have been kept alive after the filly exceled at track work this morning.

The Not A Single Doubt filly, who is the only three-year-old competing in Saturday’s Schillaci Stakes, is currently at Caulfield ahead of her first Melbourne run.

“She went very very good, she never put a foot wrong,” Layt said.

“Young Tom (Berry) was very happy with her work; he said she worked the place down.

“She had a couple of horses that were in front of her that were Group 1 winners and they were about six or seven lengths in front of her.

“And when Tom took the breaks off she absolutely flew.”

Karuta Queen will be forced to work hard early in Saturday’s race after drawing barrier eight.

Despite the unfortunate draw, Layt is still confident of Karuta Queen’s chances of running second to the superstar mare Black Caviar, who will be making her spring debut.

“You don’t have to hold her up like you do over 1,200 so you’ll just be able to let her run over her own speed over the 1,000,” Layt said.

“If Platinum Skye goes out in front then she can just sit half a length behind her.

“If I run second to (Black Caviar) I’ll be a happy man.”

Should Karuta Queen run the race of her life on Saturday, Layt will consider keeping her in Melbourne to take on Black Caviar once again in the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes on October 22.

“We’ll be guided by her run on Saturday if she runs very good we’ll run her in the Moir Stakes (Schweppes Stakes),” he said.

“Then on Melbourne Cup Day we’ll go in the 1,000 metre race down the Flemington straight.”