Trainer Charlotte Littlefield, based at Pakenham, has decided against pursuing lucrative interstate prize money for Concord Connie, aiming instead for a Group 1 victory in Victoria.
The exciting mare Concord Connie has completed four weeks of training as she gears up for a return, with the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival being the ultimate objective.
This plan means bypassing a trip to Sydney for the $10 million Golden Eagle, which has recently been elevated to Group 1 status.
The rising four-year-old has only competed in four races, securing victories in her last three starts, with the most recent two at Flemington, her latest win occurring on May 16.
Littlefield is planning a modest start for Concord Connie, aiming to improve her rating before the Spring Carnival.
“She’s probably just a touch ahead of schedule so we’ve probably got a bit of time to sit back and relax a little bit, just take her through gently and not rush her,” Littlefield stated.
“She had four-and-a-half or five weeks out and she wasn’t a horse that loved being out in the paddock.
“She actually loves and thrives off the attention of being in the stable and human interaction.
“She’s a unique horse and we enjoy having her back in, that’s for sure.
“We’ll kick-off in a benchmark race first-up in mid to late September, possibly at Mornington as around that time there is very little benchmark racing in town, so hopefully she can kick-off in a winning way.
“We need to raise those points and providing she has come back well from there we will plot a path to something like the Empire Rose.
“She obviously goes well at Flemington.
“There is the lure of big prize money up in Sydney, but for me it’s more important to win a Group 1 at headquarters down here in Victoria and for the owners too.”
Littlefield has not yet experienced a Group 1 success, having only had four runners compete at the highest level.
She came close in the 2025 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield when She’s Bulletproof finished as the runner-up to Jimmysstar.
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