Having secured a stakes win for her future career as a broodmare, Lindsay Park would like to top that by claiming a Group 1 win with Excelida.
The Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday would look good on the resume of the Ben and J D Hayes-trained mare who is in the twilight of her racing career.
Lindsay Park had originally thought about targeting a lesser stakes race during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, but decided on the Empire Rose after Excelida took out the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October 1.
And by winning the Rose Of Kingston, Excelida will also earn her connections a $1 million bonus is she is successful on Saturday.
Ben Hayes expects getting back to Flemington on the bigger track will suit Excelida after the mare finished sixth in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 15.
"She's a horse we like to keep nice and fresh," Hayes said.
"The goal going into this prep was to win a Group race and she's done that.
"She's now a stakes winner so if she can run well in the Empire Rose it will be a big bonus.
"We were planning to head towards the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m on Tuesday), but when she won the Group 2, we changed plans pretty quickly."
Michael Dee, who has ridden the mare in her past three starts, including her victory at Flemington two starts back, partnered Excelida in a gallop on Tuesday and was impressed with how she went about her work.
"I feel she's freshened up well from her last run at Caulfield and getting back to Flemington is certainly her go," Dee said.
"She prefers to be at Flemington on the big track."
