Shaun Dwyer knows a good filly when he sees one. In 2004, Dwyer trained flying three-year-old filly Regimental Gal to win the Group 1 Lightning Stakes-Australia Stakes double.It is for this reason that when Dwyer says his unbeaten two-year-old Villa Verde is potentially a better horse than the former star he affectionately refers to as 'Reggie' that you stand up and take notice."I've been reluctant to say this publicly, but I think this (Villa Verde) is a better filly than Reggie (Regimenta

Shaun Dwyer knows a good filly when he sees one. In 2004, Dwyer trained flying three-year-old filly Regimental Gal to win the Group 1 Lightning Stakes-Australia Stakes double.

It is for this reason that when Dwyer says his unbeaten two-year-old Villa Verde is potentially a better horse than the former star he affectionately refers to as 'Reggie' that you stand up and take notice.

"I've been reluctant to say this publicly, but I think this (Villa Verde) is a better filly than Reggie (Regimental Gal)," Dwyer said.

"I'm trying not to dissect her as a racehorse, but to run 31.5 from the 800 to the 200 down the straight as easily as she did makes me think she's pretty special.

"That's what Regimental Gal could do, but she was hammering along where as this filly has a lot more composure and a better racing style.

"I shouldn't even be comparing the two of them and at this stage the difference between them is $1.4 million!"

Unbeaten in two starts, Villa Verde debuted with an eye-catching win in the Listed Debutants Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield in October, before really stamping herself as a potential top line two-year-old with her win in the Listed 7 News Plate (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

Such is Dwyer's opinion of the filly; he doesn't want to risk bottoming her out by running in the Blue Diamond Stakes as well as the Golden Slipper and plans to give her a two-start autumn preparation.

"She won't be going to the Blue Diamond she'll resume in the Reisling (Group 2 1200m, March 23 at Rosehill) and will then go straight into the Golden Slipper two weeks later," he said.

"We've got a very good filly who knows how good she is? She might be only as good as she's shown but if she can go on then there's no point in going for every carrot that's dangled in front of us."

A striking grey by Not A Single Doubt, Dwyer said he plans to keep Villa Verde at his Bendigo training base until around a week before the Reisling.

"I spoke with the club here at Bendigo, they're going to accommodate me with a couple of 800 and 1000 metre jump-outs the reverse way, I think the longer I can keep her here the better I can manage her," he said.

"A lot of horse's go into the Golden Slipper with a slight niggle and I'm trying to reduce the chance of the possibility of shin soreness or joint pain or something like that.

"She doesn't need racing to teach her what to do and I think most people would agree she is fairly bombproof, all I've got to do is get her fit and make sure she's well and sound."

Because he knows how few and far between the really good horses can be as a small trainer, Dwyer admits he is doing everything in his power to make sure Villa Verde will be around for a few seasons yet for her owners to enjoy.

"She is very sound but I want to look after her and keep her that way, she can have four to five runs a year over the next two to three years and hopefully she can win a good percentage of them," he said.

"If she can be competitive in the Slipper then there are a couple of really nice sprint races for her over the spring (Blue Sapphire/Coolmore Stud Stakes).

"I even wouldn't be scared to look at the (Black Caviar) Lightning and the Newmarket with her in the autumn." (www.racingvictoria.net.au)