2025 Winx Guineas a potential goal for improving Millie De Lune

Plans for Millie De Lune to contest the Queensland Oaks didn’t materialise, but trainer Matthew Smith is still hopeful of a winter carnival run, starting with Saturday’s Elite Sand & Soil Handicap (1800m) at Randwick.

Denied a start in the Group 1 due to insufficient prizemoney, Millie De Lune bounced back with a determined win over 2000m on June 7 and now drops slightly in trip while stepping up in class.

“We didn’t quite get to the Oaks,” Smith said. “The Randwick race was a good option and this race, I probably don’t jump them up in grade that often this quickly, but it fits in perfectly with her preparation in our off season.

“She is fit and well so we thought we’d give it a shot.”

Now with two wins from nine starts, Smith is hoping for a solid effort that could justify a trip to Queensland for the Group 3 Winx Guineas on July 5.

“If she won on Saturday she could go to Queensland for the Sunshine Coast Guineas,” he said. “Otherwise, we will chip our way through the grades and get her up to 2400 metres.”

Smith’s Saturday team also includes Astero, who gained a run in the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) after two scratchings, and Time Quest, who resumes in the Switzerland @ Coolmore Handicap (1200m).

“He was in at Ipswich as well but he will stay here and run from the better gate,” Smith said of Astero. “His form doesn’t look great but he is going really well.”

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