Bang in-form four-year-old LADY LAGUNA is dominating the market for the $300,000 Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) for fillies and mares this Saturday at Rosehill, Australia.
Trained by Annabel Neasham, the mare is flying this preparation, securing a hat-trick of wins after an unlucky second-place finish first-up in early December. Most recently, LADY LAGUNA claimed victory in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes at this track by a dominant 1.65-length margin.
Despite facing stronger opposition on paper, the market indicates she is clearly the one to beat, sitting as the clear favourite. Zougotcha, trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, is on the second line of betting, ahead of other Waller-trained mare Vienna Princess, and they are the lone trio at single-figure odds.
Lightning to strike at Otaki
Thriving four-year-old DESERT LIGHTNING is poised to secure a hat-trick of wins in Saturday’s $400,000 Group 1 Otaki-Maori Classic over the mile at Otaki racecourse, New Zealand.
Trained by Peter and Dawn Williams, DESERT LIGHTNING has asserted himself as the one to beat in the weight-for-age feature, following two impressive victories. Two starts ago, he landed his first Group 1 prize with a victory in the TAB Classic, before going on to win the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic. On that occasion, he caused a surprise with a decisive 1.8-length margin win over the top-class mare and short-priced favourite, Legarto.
DESERT LIGHTNING remains the one to beat under the race conditions as the highest-rated horse on Saturday. However, it wouldn’t be surprising to see five-year-old mare La Crique put in a strong performance, along with six-year-old gelding Aegon, who returns to his preferred distance after being stepped up to an unsuitable distance in his last race.
