Annabel Neasham has sights on The Everest with Lady Laguna

Trainer Annabel Neasham believes Lady Laguna has come back bigger and stronger than ever ahead of her upcoming campaign which starts at the Randwick trials on Friday.

Lady Laguna winning the Canterbury Stakes in March. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Star mare Lady Laguna will start her five-year-old season in a star-studded barrier trial at Royal Randwick on Friday.

Lady Laguna, the winner of the Canterbury Stakes during the autumn, will clash with Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot and VRC Oaks winner Zardozi in an 850m trial on the course proper.

“She looks awesome,” trainer Annabel Neasham said.

“She’s a little bit ahead of the others (stablemates like Sunshine In Paris).

“She’s come back bigger, she’s grown again.

“I actually think she could be better again. She could be anything.”

• Annabel Neasham reveals spring plans for stable stars

During the summer and autumn, Lady Laguna progressed from a Benchmark 92 horse to a Group 1 weight-for-age winner who also finished second in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes as well as winning the Magic Millions F&M Stakes and Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes.

Lady Laguna wins the G1 Canterbury Stakes in an upset - and it’s a G1 salute from @G1TySchil!@[e-mail]/kQ3vaBfqr0

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 9, 2024

With Neasham declaring the mare has potentially come back bigger and better, the trainer has her sights on Australian racing’s biggest prize – the $20 million The Everest at Randwick in October.

“After her trials you could see her in a Toy Show and then she’ll probably progress to the Sheraco,” she said.

“I would love to think she’s a chance of getting an Everest slot if she comes back as good as she was in the autumn.

“She obviously went to a whole new level and kind of surprised us last time in.

“Whether they would be a bit sharp for her in The Everest? I don’t know but my instincts say she’d be deserving of a place in the field.

“We’ll be giving her the chance to put her hand up for the race.”

🪄 Lady of Camelot spins a magical win in the G1 TAB Golden Slipper for@GaiWaterhouse1 /Bott and @blake_shinn!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/bRVsmAwuF9

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 23, 2024

Lady Laguna is priced at $34 by TAB.com.au for The Everest while Lady Of Camelot is a $15 chance and trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have the race in their sights for the new season three-year-old filly.

“We’re probably going to test her in the Moir Stakes at weight-for-age first-up with a view to heading toward The Everest,” Bott said.

The Moir Stakes is at The Valley over 1000m on September 7 and Lady Of Camelot is on the fourth line of betting at $8 three other Everest candidates Estriella ($3.50), I Wish I Win ($5) and Giga Kick ($6).

Other top line performers set to trial at Royal Randwick on Friday include Aft Cabin, Red Card, Switzerland, Democracy Manifest, Pericles, Athabascan, Kallos, Storm Boy, Tom Kitten, Major Beel, Military Mission, Land Legend, Detonator Jack, Anode, Extreme Diva and Roselyn’s Star.

Originally published as Annabel Neasham has sights on The Everest with Lady Laguna