The Sydney Cup is on the radar for staying mare Vittoria and she will be out to confirm those ambitions at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
A minor placegetter in last year's Group One Queensland Oaks, the Mick Kent-trained Vittoria has returned this preparation a more mature mare and shoots for a hat-trick of wins in Saturday's Friends Of Epworth Handicap (2500m).
Kent is happy with the four-year-old's progress but said the mare would want to do something pretty good for the Sydney Cup to be a realistic goal.
"She gets in nicely with the claim on Saturday and I'd love some give in the ground," Kent said.
"She holds a Sydney Cup nomination and I'll just see how she goes on Saturday to see where she goes. I'm happy with the way she's worked.
"We sort of fancy her on a bit of soft ground but we haven't been able to find it yet."
Vittoria returned from a spell with a last-to-first win at Pakenham over 1770m in February and then backed it up with another victory over 2040m at Moonee Valley on March 15.
The daughter of Postponed contested top level races during her three-year-old season, finishing fourth in the VRC Oaks and third in the Queensland Oaks.
"I ran her in the VRC Oaks and she was very immature," Kent said.
After the Queensland Oaks, Vittoria backed up in the Derby without success and was later found to have an eye problem.
"We spelled her again and she's just matured," Kent said.
Stablemate Hula Lua, who also holds a Sydney Cup nomination, is entered for a 2040m race at Moonee Valley and the Group Three Neville Selwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
The trainer hasn't decided where the winner of her past two starts will run.
"It will be weather dependant," Kent said.