Trainer Enver Jusufovic is ready to roll the dice with in-form mare New York Lustre, who will make her stakes debut in Saturday’s Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

The five-year-old has won five of her eight career starts and is stepping up in class after being carefully placed throughout her career.

Her previous attempt at a black-type start ended before it began, scratched at the barriers from the Proud Miss Stakes after a delay and chaos behind the stalls.

“She was two stalls away, but they didn’t get her out and she got kicked about six times,” Jusufovic said.

“She didn’t seem to take any ill-effect from it.”

New York Lustre hasn’t raced since her Moonee Valley win in April, and skipped a trial this week due to an unsuitable synthetic surface.

Instead, she galloped on the Cranbourne grass under race jockey Jamie Mott.

“She does excel first-up,” Jusufovic said.

“She’s certainly a winner… but the key has been the placement and it’s important now for Mike Howard to get some Black Type with her.”