Group 1 winners Diamond Drille, Dear Demi and Lucia Valentina have all been included in the 2014 Toy Show Quality field.
Diamond Drille will start her spring campaign in the Toy Show Quality at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Diamond Drille (barrier two) has been allocated the top weight of 59 kilograms and will be returning to the races for the first time since she scored an upset win in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 19.
The Al Maher mare has impressed with two strong barrier trial performances at Royal Randwick and trainer Gai Waterhouse is eyeing the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) with five-year-old.
Dear Demi (barrier six) will carry 58 and a half kilograms in the Toy Show Quality at Royal Randwick on Saturday and trainer Clarry Connors is confident that the daughter of Dehere is set for a big 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
The five-year-old has not recorded a race win since she took out the Group 3 The Roses (2000m) over a year ago, but has been a consistent performer at Group 1 level and finished in the placings in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
Lucia Valentina (barrier 13) has been touted as a leading contender for the Caulfield Cup after she impressed in her four race starts in Australia during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
The Savabeel mare made her Australian racing debut in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on March 8 and finished a credible 12th in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 before scoring a most impressive win in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at the same venue on April 5.
Lucia Valentina did her reputation no harm when she stormed home from the tail of the field to finish third in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 19.
Thump (barrier 11) is another mare that was competitive at Group 1 level during her autumn campaign and the daughter of Red Ransom is set to have a fitness edge over the majority of her rivals in the Toy Show Quality on Saturday.
Thump tired in the final stages of the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 9, but she has a good second-up record and won the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) in the second start of her autumn preparation.
Gypsy Diamond (barrier 10) is set to start her spring campaign in the Toy Show Quality and will be having her first race start for Team Snowden in the Group 3 event.
The Not A Single Doubt mare finished second behind Diamond Drille in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes and Team Snowden are eyeing the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 with the four-year-old.
Consistent mare Bennetta (barrier five), the talented Miss Promiscuity (barrier nine), last start winner Lesley’s Choice (barrier 12), and Chris Waller-trained Kristy Lee (barrier seven) have also been included in the Toy Show Quality field.
