Talented filly Empress Me will take the first steps towards boosting her broodmare value at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Trainer Steve O’Dea has decided to roll the dice and hope Empress Me can handle her first attempt on a slow track in the Canadian Club Handicap (1500m).

The daughter of Jet Spur looked well above average with a commanding victory at Eagle Farm last month which was her second win from her first three starts.

Empress Me was then given a three-week break before producing an eye-catching effort to finish third to Double Impact at her first attempt over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm on February 11.

“I liked her last run and thought it was super,” O’Dea said.

“She got way out of her ground early and did a great job to reel them in.

“This is her first run over 1500 metres but it shouldn’t worry her and I think she’ll run 1600 metres.”

O’Dea is not overly concerned with Empress Me’s barrier 17.

“She’s drawn out wide but she gets back so it shouldn’t worry her that much,” he said.

“The track is slow and could get worse so maybe the alley won’t be a disadvantage at all.

“The big unknown is she’s never been on a wet track. She’s only worked a couple of times in it and she seemed to handle it.”

O’Dea has pencilled in the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm on April 21 if she continues her progression.

Empress Me was a $30,000 buy as a yearling and if she can measure up at Listed level next start, the winter carnival is likely to be on her agenda.

“She’s a smart filly and has always shown us plenty,” O’Dea said.

“The good fillies and mares race during the winter are well within her scope.”

New Zealand apprentice Ryan Hurdle will be hoping Defenceman can provide him with his first Australian metropolitan winner in the Canadian Club Handicap.

The Rob Heathcote-trained three-year-old scored a runaway five-length win in an Ipswich Class 1 over 1350 metres on February 17 with Hurdle in the saddle.

Hurdle, 17, won a $NZ5000 scholarship from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and used it to try his luck riding in Queensland.

Hurdle, who has ridden more than 40 winners in New Zealand including a Group Three race, has been riding for Heathcote for the past two weeks and is due to return home next week.