Lady Selkirk after more Flemington success

Lady Selkirk will wear blinkers in a race for the first time when the talented mare bids to continue an affinity with Melbourne’s most famous racetrack.

The Matthew Williams-trained Lady Selkirk heads to Flemington for Saturday’s fillies and mares 1400m benchmark 84 handicap second-up having won twice there from three attempts in the winter.

Lady Selkirk nearly fell early in the straight in her first appearance at Flemington in June before regrouping to finish seventh in the fillies’ race won by the classy Euro Angel.

She then came out and won an open three-year-old handicap over 1600m later that month at Flemington before adding another Flemington victory in the Silver Bowl Series Final.

“The family seem to like Flemington with her being a half-sister to Turnitaround,” Williams said.

“It’s not a bad track to have a liking for.”

Turnitaround won two open handicaps at Flemington earlier this year and has a record of three wins and four seconds from 10 starts at the track.

Lady Selkirk finished 10th when she resumed in a benchmark-70 over 1200m at Moonee Valley earlier this month.

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Williams was happy with the way the mare ran through the line and said her fitness had come on for Saturday where she steps to a more suitable distance and is back to fillies and mares company.

“We’re going to put the blinkers on her on Saturday just to sharpen her right up and she’s worked in them very well at home,” Williams said.

Ben Thompson retains the ride and Lady Selkirk will carry 54kg after the apprentice’s 2kg claim, having carried 59kg first-up.

“Ben was pretty happy with her and keen to stick with her,” the trainer said.

Williams says Lady Selkirk had strengthened up and he believes she can take the next step this campaign.

He is aiming her towards stakes races for mares during the Melbourne autumn carnival.

“Hopefully the plan is for her to measure up on Saturday then again in a race on Boxing Day,” Williams said.

“Then we’ll look to give her a little break and look to a couple of stakes races for mares early in the autumn carnival.”

They include the Mannerism Stakes while a long-range target is the Group Two Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley in March.