The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Lizzie L’Amour will need a little luck on her side if she is to join her stablemates Bonneval and Jon Snow in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) field next month.
The Zabeel mare is currently ranked 41st in the order of entry, but Baker is not overly concerned at her low standing at this stage.
“It’s early days,” he said. “They drop out a lot, so we’ll just wait and see what happens.”
There are 12 international runners ahead of Lizzie L’Amour in the order of entry, however six of those failed to enter quarantine in England or Ireland last week.
Early indications are that only five internationals rated ahead of Lizzie L’Amour – Admire Deus, Francis of Assisi, Steel of Madrid, Johannes Vermeer and Marmelo – are likely to take their place in the $A3 million feature.
A Group One-winning daughter of Zabeel, Lizzie L’Amour disappointed when finishing seventh in the Gr.2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m), but was subsequently found to have suffered an atrial fibrillation.
“She’s been good as gold since,” Baker said. “She’s had a jump out and has passed everything. We just left it to the vet to treat her, she’s righted herself and everything is okay.”
The classy middle distance mare will likely return to Moonee Valley for the Gr.2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) on Friday week, with stablemate Jon Snow to step out in the Gr.3 JRA Cup (2040m) on the same card.
Despite finishing a well-held eighth, Baker was pleased with the run of Jon Snow behind impressive winner Humidor in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last Saturday.
“I was happy with his run,” he said. “He got tightened a bit, it was a funny run race because they went hard for the first 1000m. He’s probably looking for 2000m.”
Baker said the stable’s three-year-old raider Weather With You will start in the Derby trial next Wednesday at Flemington over 1800m as he continues his campaign aimed at the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) on November 4.
Meanwhile, stable star Bonneval has thrived since her first-up victory in the Gr.2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) and will tackle the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) on September 31.
