Socks Nation, last year’s surprise Queensland Oaks winner, is set to launch her latest preparation at Hawkesbury on Saturday as she builds toward a return to Queensland’s lucrative winter carnival.

The mare resumes in the Hawkesbury Crown (1300m), and while her best is expected to come over longer distances, trainer Ciaron Maher’s assistant Johann Gerard-Dubord is pleased with her condition heading into her return.

“As we saw last prep, she has done well from three to four and I think there will be some nice races for her up in Queensland,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“She looks very well and she has had a good base in Victoria. She just arrived here (in Sydney) last week. She will improve on whatever she does but it’s a good starting point.”

Socks Nation backed up her Oaks triumph with Group 1 placings in the Empire Rose Stakes behind Atishu and the Northerly Stakes (1800m) behind Light Infantry Man, proving she could mix it with the open class horses.

“Three-year-olds who win restricted races like the Queensland Oaks, most of the time they find it hard to step up to open company but she did that well,” Gerard-Dubord said.

He suggested targets like the Doomben Cup or The Q22 (2200m) were under consideration.

Stablemate Tiz Invincible is also entered for the Hawkesbury Crown but is not a guaranteed runner, having drawn wide in barrier 11 and also being catalogued for the upcoming Inglis Chairman’s Sale.

“On her work at home, I couldn’t fault her. She is working very well and she looks as good as she ever has,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“Without saying she can get back to what we saw as an early three-year-old, she has still got some nice races left in her.”

Tiz Invincible was luckless in the Sapphire Stakes (1200m) first-up at Randwick, and Gerard-Dubord said she needs a genuine tempo to show her best.

The Hawkesbury track was rated a heavy 9 on Wednesday, but weather conditions were forecast to improve in the lead-up to race day.