Chris Waller’s top liners will target the Winx Stakes, but the champion trainer will still have a presence in Melbourne’s first weight-for-age contest of the season.
Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield is likely to feature several US-bred mares he trains for Yulong, including Moira, Full Count Felicia and Anisette, alongside Land Legend and More Felons.
Waller believes the mares are better suited racing left-handed and this path avoids a first-up clash with stablemates Via Sistina, Fangirl, Lady Shenandoah and Aeliana in Sydney.
Anisette, a triple Group 1 winner in the US, was unplaced in this year’s Doncaster Mile.
Moira and Full Count Felicia also made low-key Australian debuts in autumn after successful northern hemisphere campaigns.
All three have had two quiet Sydney trials leading into the race.
Early markets have Moira at $15, Full Count Felicia $21 and Anisette $34, with Evaporate favourite at $3 ahead of Private Eye at $4.