Carpet Call Handicap 2013 – Lady Of Harrods ready to fire at Caulfield

Dual Group winner Lady Of Harrods is showing trainer Russell Cameron all the signs she can snap a 14-month losing streak at Caulfield.

Last year’s Thousand Guineas Prelude winner is approaching peak fitness heading into Saturday’s Carpet Call Handicap (1400m) and indicated she was closer to another win with her last-start fifth in the Group Three Sandown Stakes.

On that occasion she appeared to travel well in front and had her rivals chasing turning for home, only to be overhauled late in the race won by Mahisara.

“The thing about her is that she’s such a big, strong mare. We’ve finally got her down to her weight,” Cameron said.

“I just think she looks great. We’ve been a bit disappointed with her but I think she’s just starting to really get there now.”

Lady Of Harrods has 59.5kg but Cameron has opted to take 3kg off that impost by calling on claiming apprentice Jye McNeil.

The 1400m mares’ event was favoured over the Open handicap over the same distance on Saturday’s program.

“If everything goes alright, I’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t run really well,” the trainer said.

A winner of three of her 13 starts, Lady Of Harrods is chasing her first victory since her back-to-back Group Three wins in the McNeil Stakes and Thousand Guineas Prelude during the 2012 spring carnival.

Winta Chiller has been the notable firmer from $11 to $6 with TAB fixed odds to be favourite just ahead of last-start Adelaide winner Extra Virgin and Lady Of Harrods at $6.50.

Summer options for Lady Of Harrods could include a Tasmanian trip but Cameron said Saturday’s race, her fourth start of this campaign, would prove telling.

“We just want to see her do it this week and she’ll tell us where she’s at,” he said.

“The indications were from her last run that she would be just peaking again now. So we’ll know more about her after Saturday.”

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