Lagunanini looks to emulate McGaw in Caulfield feature

Trained by the team of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Lagunanini targets a special accomplishment in her appearance at Caulfield.

The filly will try to echo her older brother McGaw's success by claiming the $1 million The Showdown (1200m) scheduled for Saturday.

Both McGaw and Lagunanini arrived at The Showdown with maiden triumphs behind them – McGaw's at Pakenham, Lagunanini's at Sale – however, past their family ties, the likenesses stop.

Emma-Lee and David Browne secured McGaw for $14,000, in contrast to the $160,000 Busuttin and Young paid for Lagunanini.

Despite being over 10 times the Browne's outlay, the higher price tag might turn out savvy, given McGaw's rise to Group 2 winner status, which surely enhances Lagunanini's broodmare potential.

"He was very athletic and raw whereas she was solid and looked like a real runner," Young said.

"We loved her the first time we saw her. She's got a great body on her, and she's done nothing wrong since coming into the barn.

"We gave her that first prep and then tipped her out and gave her a bit of a long break.

"The penny has dropped this time and she's handling the pressure."

That intensity now heads to Caulfield on Saturday, though Young is confident in the filly's professional demeanour to carry her forward.

"It will be a big day, different atmosphere, but I think she will handle it, no problem," Young said.

"We can't question her professionalism. Beau (Mertens) knows her, he won on her, and she's usually very sensible at the races and trials beforehand.

"She doesn't get too worked up, but it is a two-year-old race, and you never know what can happen."

A Caulfield gallop was pondered for Tuesday, but Young noted they chose to finalise at Cranbourne instead.

The filly stays in contention for the Golden Slipper at Rosehill the following Saturday week and has accepted into the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) there this weekend.

Further entries include the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) in Randwick on April 4 and Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) subsequently.

"We put her in up in Sydney as well, just in case we drew wide, as we just wanted another option, but we'll head to Caulfield after getting the ace draw," Young said.

"There's Stakes races coming up interstate that may suit her, but we'll get through Saturday first and see where we go."

Find competitive racing betting markets ahead of Lagunanini in The Showdown.