Lady Esprit will get at least one factor in her favour for her return bout with Heatherly in Saturday's Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Lady Esprit finished 1 ¾ lengths from Heatherly when the pair met at Flemington in March with the winner giving the runner-up 5kg.
The pair meets again on Saturday under set weights and penalties with Heatherly only giving Lady Esprit 1kg but the latter's record on the track giving her a fighting chance of rolling the $2.20 favourite.
Lady Esprit has won twice and placed twice from five runs at the Moonee Valley circuit, which Maher said gave the daughter of Bel Esprit a chance of fulfilling the stable's goal with the five-year-old.
"She has worked her way through the grades and if she can get a bit of black type, she'll be a valuable broodmare," Maher said.
"She's a sharp horse and she's always had little niggles but seems to have had a really good prep.
"She's a winner at the 1000m around the Valley and hopefully she can get a bit of black type."
Lady Esprit pleased Maher with her latest jumpout effort at Caulfield but he took the chance to send the five-year-old for a refresher at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning.
"She trialled well here at Caulfield two weeks ago and she went out to Moonee Valley and did a slick piece of work," Maher said.
"Heatherly has got a bit on her but if she can place or be somewhere around the mark, I'm sure she'll come on from the run also.
"She didn't need a look at the track but the trip over there and a good gallop brings them on more than a gallop in their backyard."
Sportsbet has Lady Esprit as a $20 chance to upset Heatherly in Carlyon Stakes with Craig Williams aboard.
