Fan favourite The Candy Man will command much attention at Eagle Farm but the performance of his stablemate Lady Appleton will also be keenly watched.
The Candy Man is having his comeback run from a break in Saturday’s Open Handicap over 1200m while Lady Appleton tackles a Three-Year-Old Handicap (1400m).
Both race in Lucky Pippos’ purple and white colours worn by the champion Gunsynd.
The Candy Man won seven races in a row before his last start unplaced run in the Brisbane Cup on June 8.
He is headed to a possible start in the Group One Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 5, a race Gunsynd won in 1971.
Lady Appleton is housed beside The Candy Man at trainer Barry Baldwin‘s stable and is likely to travel with him to the NSW carnival.
“They get on well and she should make a good travelling companion,” Baldwin said.
“She will probably have a start in Newcastle when The Candy Man takes on the Cameron Handicap as a lead-up to the Epsom.”
Lady Appleton has won her past two starts at Ipswich and the Gold Coast but Baldwin realises it is a big step up on Saturday.
The race has drawn a well above average field with trainers of several runners making no secret of their horses’ ability.
But Baldwin also believes Lady Appleton has plenty of potential.
“We will know more after Saturday but she has done everything we have asked so far,” he said.
Lady Appleton is by the popular sire Shamus Award out of the mare Athanea who Baldwin trained to win two races before she went to stud about five years ago.