The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable will play jugglers as they race staying mare Daisies into fitness while also keeping her fresh for a Group 1 target.
Daisies makes her spring return in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday which is the kick-off point for her quest of Group 1 glory in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on the opening day of Melbourne Cup week.
The stable then plan to back the now four-year-old up in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at the same track on November 7.
Daisies has not raced since finishing sixth to Glint Of Hope in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in May.
Last spring Daisies stepped up to 2500m in the Victorian Oaks, finishing fifth, having earlier been successful over 2000m at Caulfield.
Daisies’ autumn campaign saw her successful over 1600m at Group 3 level at Moonee Valley.
Kent Jnr said Daisies had prepared nicely for her racing comeback but warned punters to disregard her jump-out at Cranbourne.
“She’s not a good trial horse as we’ve seen that previously,” Kent Jnr said.
“She was very good fresh up at Flemington last prep, albeit in slightly weaker grade.
“She’s going super, had a really good prep and is fit and forward, but I think she’ll need a mile and then 2000 metres later on to see her at her best.”
With the way the Melbourne Spring Carnival is shaped, there are no suitable mares only races for Daisies until the end of the carnival.
“With this type of mare, we can’t get to 2000 metres until the end of the carnival,” Kent Jnr said.
“So, she’ll be kept a bit fresh to stay at the mile for runs two and three and then aim her at the Empire Rose and then on to the Matriarch.
“The 2000 is great trip for her but in saying that she’s won a Group 3 over a mile also.”