From Pakenham, trainer Reece Goodwin hopes Lovelycut can recapture her winning ways during this preparation.
The four-year-old mare kicks off in the Geoff Murphy Handicap (1200m) on Saturday, without fixed plans ahead, yet a promising start might point her to the Adelaide carnival.
Lightly tried, Lovelycut has shown ample quality throughout. She tasted success at Sandown late in her juvenile phase, then in spring placed second in Listed ranks, was fourth across the line in the Vanity Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, and midfield thereafter, shy of three lengths from victory in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
With time for development, she omitted her three-year-old autumn and featured in three races last spring, highlighted by a 1400m win at Seymour.
Goodwin indicated he’s content with her return to training this time.
“Off the back of last prep where she won over 1400 metres, she’s going to be suited at 1400 and 1600 this time around and Saturday is a good kick-off for her,” Goodwin said.
“She could have run in one of the 1100-metre races at Flemington last week, but I just thought 1200 would be a better kick off for her.
“She’s probably not as sharp as she was when she was a two-year-old, three-year-old and it looks a competitive race on Saturday as well, but she’s pretty good fitness wise.
“She’s there to run really well.”
The trainer observed that Lovelycut has become a sturdier, more developed mare fit for competition.
Approaching winter, thoughtful entries will matter most.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do through the winter,” he said.
“(The) Adelaide carnival could be on the radar depending on how she goes Saturday.
“If she was to win, or run really strongly, we would have to give strong consideration to that because she would go into the mid-80’s ratings wise, but there’s no set plans.
“She’s a highly-strung mare, so travelling her would take a bit out of her, so we want to make sure if we were to go there, it was worthwhile.”
Betting fans should review betting sites for the best options on Lovelycut in the Geoff Murphy Handicap.