Lady Laguna will look to add a second Group 1 to her already outstanding career record when she tackles the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
The star mare has adapted seamlessly to her surroundings in Perth, with the Neasham & Archibald team confident she is ready to peak at the right time.
“She’s settled in perfectly and hasn’t missed a beat since arriving,” Archibald reported. “She had a nice gallop on the course proper at Ascot on Tuesday morning. She was really strong through the line and pulled up from the gallop hardly having a blow.”
Adding to the team’s confidence is the booking of champion jockey James McDonald, who will pilot Lady Laguna from barrier 1. With a favorable draw and a race projected to have plenty of early speed, the mare should be ready to pounce once when the pressure goes on.
She will need to be at her best against last year’s winner, Overpass, but a replica of her run behind Bella Nipotina & Sunshine In Paris two starts back would certainly see her in the finish on Saturday.
Lady Laguna finished 3rd in the Russell Balding Stakes.
We wish all of her connections the best of luck, many of which are making the trip over to Perth!
While most eyes will be on Lady Laguna in Perth, we will also be represented at stakes level in Sydney by Hezashocka & Baby Rider, who are set to contest the ATC Cup at Rosehill.
With plenty of rain forecasted in Sydney, Hezashocka should get his preferred conditions. The Price/Kent team have been very happy with the horse throughout this preparation and he is expected to acquit himself well on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Baby Rider, last year’s winner of the ATC Cup, will be looking to defend his title. He heads into Saturday’s race on the back up and now gets out to a suitable trip for the first time this preparation. We are hopeful of an improved effort which would hold him in good stead for a nice program of summer staying features.