Mel Eggleston considers sending debut winner Lady Vixen to winter carnival

MEL Eggleston says he could have another winter carnival prospect on his hands following an impressive debut win by Lady Vixen on the Gold Coast.

Jockey Luke Rolls rides the Mel Eggleston-trained All Over Bosanova to victory at the Gold Coast on January 28. Photo: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography.

TRAINER Mel Eggleston says he could have another winter carnival prospect following an impressive debut win by Lady Vixen on the Gold Coast.

Eggleston was on his way to Brisbane to watch stable star All Over Bosanova race at Doomben on Saturday when he celebrated a victory by Lady Vixen that could result in her own trip up the road.

Jockey Vanessa Johnston rode the previously unraced three-year-old filly to victory in the Fillies and Mares Maiden Handicap (1200m) on the Coast to start her career in the best way possible.

Eggleston said the impressive filly could be in line for a winter carnival appearance.

“I’ll have to have a think about it and see what we can do with her,” Eggleston said.

“I’m going to have a look at her win. We might press on to a nice race over the carnival if we think she is going to go that way.”

Eggleston said he wasn’t surprised Lady Vixen had enjoyed such early success after watching her beat seasoned runners including multiple Gold Coast winner Sassy Tycoon and fellow three-year-old Licitra, who has finished third in two Class 1 races, during trackwork.

“She’s showed a lot,” Eggleston said. “She is pretty smart – I think she is going to be a good filly.

“She is above average and I thought she would do well. I wasn’t surprised to see her win.

“It was a maiden and she has been going good enough on the track to say she would win a maiden.

“She is working with horses that have won three races and beaten them easy. She just ticked all the boxes.

Johnston was equally as confident after riding Lady Vixen in trackwork and said more success would come for the Dash For Cash filly.

“She jumped all right and it was a bit tight early but she managed to position herself three back in the fence and travelled to the corner really good,” Johnston said.

“They ran off a bit so she got a good run on the inside and did it easy – it was really impressive.

“I ride her most days in trackwork and she has always shown a bit in galloping and jumpouts so we thought she would go good.”