The Winx Stakes entries are dominated by Group 1-winning girls, but the $1 million event is not the only race on Saturday’s Randwick card that will contain a top-level mare.
The $250,000 Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) is the probable spring launching pad for Lady Laguna.
The five-year-old daughter of Overshare was a withdrawal from Monday’s Randwick trials, which were transferred from last Friday, but a course-proper exhibition gallop at Rosehill last Saturday gave her the workout that has her ready to return to the races.
“It has been a bit frustrating with her because her first trial was postponed, which I wouldn’t say put us on the back foot, but there was certainly no room for error,” co-trainer Annabel Neasham said.
“I just felt trialling Monday and running first-up on Saturday was a bit close so they very kindly offered for us to come (to Rosehill) and gallop instead.
“She possibly goes to the Toy Show off one trial and one exhibition gallop. Off that work (on Saturday), I’d be happy to run her.”
The Toy Show Quality will be Lady Laguna’s first start since April’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile, in which she finished second-last but was the first time all campaign she finished further back than second.
Lady Laguna won four races, including the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and finished second in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Those performances have contributed to her receiving 61kg in Saturday’s race, with Opal Ridge (56kg) and Thousand Guineas winner Joliestar (55.5kg) the only others above the 54kg limit, but Neasham is eager to get her campaign underway.
“There’s not too much else around for her unless we wait for the Sheraco (Stakes), which she will go to anyway, but it might be nice to get a run under her belt beforehand because we’re trying to put her hand up for an Everest slot,” Neasham said.
Lady Laguna is one of two Toy Show Quality nominations for Neasham and training partner Annabel Neasham, who also have Hell Hath No Fury entered but are likely to hold her back until the $200,000 Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong the following weekend.