Track gallop to determine whether Lady In Pink lines up in Pakenham Cup

Troy Corstens has big plans for Group 2-winning mare Lady In Pink next spring but will find out more about her staying ability if she takes her place in Saturday’s Pakenham Cup.

Lady In Pink (centre) could head to the Pakenham Cup on Saturday after she was denied in the Ballarat Cup by Berkeley Square (left). Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Flemington trainer Troy Corstens could look into the future on Saturday in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) with Lady In Pink.

The talented Group 2-winning mare must satisfy Corstens, who trains in partnership with Leon and Will Larkins, on Tuesday at Flemington.

Lady In Pink has raced five times this campaign including a Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) win second-up.

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The four-year-old mare placed third in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) two back and then last start looked every bit a Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) winner until Berkeley Square collared her late.

A sign of recent times for the Flemington outfit, who saddled three second places at Caulfield Heath last Saturday.

“If I’m happy with her (Lady In Pink) she will take her place in the Pakenham Cup,” Corstens said.

“Honestly, I can’t take a trick at the minute, everything is running second, but anyway, they’re running well.

“I’ve thought the whole way along she is a 2400m-2500m horse, my only little concern is we’ve been up a long time and last week was probably our grand final and I don’t want to make judgement on her over the further distance if it’s an end of preparation run.

“If she shows me signs of that, I’ll see Tuesday morning, she won’t run … I need to see her work and that she wants to be there.”

Lady In Pink (right) winning the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield during the spring. Picture: Michael Klein

Corstens has Caulfield Cup ambitions for Lady In Pink, so the opportunity to find out now about her staying prowess is priceless in terms of future plans.

“I think she could be a really be a nice horse in the spring next year,” Corstens said.

“She’ll have a really light autumn, maybe one run, and then a nice break and hopefully we can try and set her for a Caulfield Cup.”

Lady In Pink has blossomed in a breakout campaign.

“Always thought she’s a really good horse and for her to do what she did this preparation, to be able to win over 1400m, that surprised me a little bit because I did think she’s an out and out 2000m-plus horse,” Corstens said.

A replacement jockey will be needed for Lady In Pink with regular rider Ben Allen suspended.

Originally published as Track gallop to determine whether Lady In Pink lines up in Pakenham Cup