Reece Goodwin anticipates strong return from Lovelycut at Caulfield

Trainer Reece Goodwin from Pakenham believes the current preparation holds promise for Lovelycut to find the winner's circle again.

This Saturday, the four-year-old mare steps out in the Geoff Murphy Handicap (1200m), and although future plans remain flexible, an impressive reappearance might steer her towards the Adelaide carnival.

Despite few race experiences, Lovelycut has regularly hinted at her potential. She notched her initial success at Sandown during the close of her juvenile campaign, followed by a spring return yielding a second at Listed company, a fourth placing in the Vanity Stakes (1400m) held at Flemington, and a midfield finish, beaten by fewer than three lengths, in the Thousand Guineas over at Caulfield.

Given a spell for growth, she missed the autumn as a three-year-old and re-emerged last spring for three efforts, capped by a 1400m score at Seymour.

The trainer expressed delight at how the mare has presented this time around.

"Off the back of last prep where she won over 1400 metres, she's going to be suited at 1400 and 1600 this time around and Saturday is a good kick-off for her," Goodwin said.

"She could have run in one of the 1100-metre races at Flemington last week, but I just thought 1200 would be a better kick off for her.

"She's probably not as sharp as she was when she was a two-year-old, three-year-old and it looks a competitive race on Saturday as well, but she's pretty good fitness wise.

"She's there to run really well."

According to Goodwin, Lovelycut now possesses greater strength and maturity to cope with racing pressures.

With the winter season looming, judicious race choices are crucial.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do through the winter," he said.

"(The) Adelaide carnival could be on the radar depending on how she goes Saturday.

"If she was to win, or run really strongly, we would have to give strong consideration to that because she would go into the mid-80's ratings wise, but there's no set plans.

"She's a highly-strung mare, so travelling her would take a bit out of her, so we want to make sure if we were to go there, it was worthwhile."

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