Trainer Phillip Stokes is doing his best to retain classy filly Femminile as she heads toward the Queensland Derby on May 31, with Blake Shinn booked for the ride in what could be a final race appearance before a change of ownership.

Femminile is due to be sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale just days before the Derby, but Stokes is hopeful her new owners will allow her to take her place in the $1 million Group 1 feature at Eagle Farm.

“She’s going through the sale a few days before, so the new buyers can have a runner in the Derby,” Stokes said.

“She’ll have a reverse (way) trial on Tuesday and then go up at the end of the week. She seems well.”

The daughter of Dundeel stunned the colts in the South Australian Derby earlier this month, giving Lachlan Neindorf a memorable win in the OTI Racing colours.

Shinn, who piloted Warmonger to a dominant win in last year’s Queensland Derby for the same ownership group, will chase back-to-back wins in the classic.

He’s also locked in to ride Stokes-trained Regal Azmon and Stay Focused at the May 31 meeting. Regal Azmon, a last-start winner of the Group 3 Cummings Stakes, will target the Lord Mayor’s Cup over 1800m.

“I thought, he’s in career-best so we might as well have a crack at that,” said Stokes. “He’s an older horse, but he’s going as good as ever.”

The Eagle Farm card is one of the highlights of the Brisbane winter carnival, with Doomben hosting top-level racing this weekend, including a mouth-watering clash between Pride Of Jenni and Antino.

Get the best odds on Femminile and other carnival runners now at leading Australian betting sites.