Regally- bred stayer La Amistad is just one win away from taking her place in the 2014 Melbourne Cup. The Team Hawkes- trained galloper will line up from barrier four in tomorrow's Group Three Lexus Stakes at Flemington where she is rated an $8 chance with Sportingbet.
La Amistad is currently 26th in the order of entry for Tuesday's Flemington feature, with a win in the Lexus making her exempt from the ballot and guaranteeing her a start in the 3200 metre handicap.
The daughter of Redoute's Choice and Tugela will be be aiming to follow in the footsteps of her famous three quarter sister, the three time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, should she gain a start in the race that stops the nation.
La Amistad has had a few tough runs since resuming from a spell in August and she will just need a bit of luck to be able to showcase her talent in the mile feature tomorrow. Early on this preparation she was galloped on and forced to race on the speed against her regular racing style, while at her last start she was ridden perfectly but unable to produce her best due to a slow tempo.
That most recent run still resulted in a second placing in the Listed Tattersals Club Cup at Randwick, finishing just over a length behind Mulaqen.
La Amistad goes into the Lexus with the solid record of five wins and four minor placings from 16 career starts. The five year old mare's biggest win was in May this year when she claimed the Listed W J McKell Cup at Randwick over 2400 metres, with tomorrow's race her first start in Victoria since winning at Echuca at her ninth start.
The favourite to win tomorrow's Group Three Lexus Stakes is Signoff which is $2.80 with Sportingbet. The gelding has been around the money in his most recent runs, finishing second in the Group Two Herbert Power Handicap followed by a third in the Group Three David Jones Cup at Caulfield.
La Amistad is currently rated a $51 chance with Sportingbet to take out the 2014 Melbourne Cup. The favourite remains Caulfield Cup winner Admire Rakti which is solid at $5.
