Adelaide mare Lingani will be out to create a slice of racing history when she contests the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Not only is she chasing a maiden Melbourne win for trainers Peter and Belinda Blanch, but she also has the opportunity to become the first horse to win a Stakes race in the city after breaking her maiden on Kangaroo Island.

That feat was nearly achieved by Empress Waltz, who began her career with a victory at Kangaroo Island before winning on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington in 2002.

Peter Blanch has long used Kangaroo Island as a grounding experience for younger horses, and Lingani impressed with a dominant 6.3-length debut win at the track.

“I like taking young horses there that are still not there mentally,” Blanch said.

“We have two or three days over there. It’s a good experience for them, and I’ve done it with a lot of horses that have come back and won city races.

“She didn’t get under anyone’s guard over there either.

“I did have a big stable’s racing manager from Ballarat ring on the Sunday morning after she won just to inquire whether she might be for sale.

“So, someone was watching her.”

Lingani, who won the Listed Lightning Stakes at Morphettville last July, was set for a Victorian campaign in autumn before a minor injury delayed her plans.

“She trialled up and was ready to race in January but just tweaked a hamstring in a jump-out, so we decided to give her some time off,” Blanch said.

“Sometimes a negative can be a positive because she has come back bigger and stronger.”

Now fully fit, the stable star resumed with a solid fourth at Morphettville Parks over 1000m on June 28, and Blanch believes she’s taken improvement from the run.

“She can’t be any better. She came through the run well the other day as she needed it,” he said.

“We rode her conservatively from the barrier, just to make sure she hit the line, and she did that.

“She had a good blow afterwards, but since then she’s come on, her coat has come on, so it’s time to have a look.

“The question is ‘where do we sit?’, so we’ll know more after Saturday.”

Blanch and his team will make the trip to Caulfield on raceday morning, linking up with long-time friend and harness trainer David Miles before heading to the track. Veteran jockey Paul Gatt will take the ride.

“It’s an expensive trip to come, but it’s worthwhile if you think you’ve got the right horse,” Blanch said.

“When we’ve got the right horse, we like to go, but a win has eluded us so far. We’ve had a few seconds, so fingers crossed.”

For punters tracking her form, Lingani shapes as an intriguing betting prospect in the Sir John Monash Stakes this Saturday.