Honey Flower resumes on Saturday at Caulfield in a campaign that trainers Clinton and Ross McDonald hope will see her worthy of competing in the Group 1 Sportingbet Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on April 27.
In a brief Spring campaign, Honey Flower quickly rose through the grades and steps up again on Saturday into open company in the Listed Thoroughbred Club Cup (1200m).

After running second first up in a 0-68 last preparation, Honey Flower beat subsequent Group 3 winner Koonoomoo in a mares race at Geelong.

She finished off that campaign with a victory in Listed company in the G H Mumm Stakes at Flemington on Oaks day, where she beat a quality field that included Dystopia, Anise and subsequent Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis, giving her a fourth win in just eight starts.

Honey Flower resumes on Saturday at Caulfield in a campaign that trainers Clinton and Ross McDonald hope will see her worthy of competing in the Group 1 Sportingbet Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on April 27.

In a brief Spring campaign, Honey Flower quickly rose through the grades and steps up again on Saturday into open company in the Listed Thoroughbred Club Cup (1200m).

After running second first up in a 0-68 last preparation, Honey Flower beat subsequent Group 3 winner Koonoomoo in a mares race at Geelong.

She finished off that campaign with a victory in Listed company in the G H Mumm Stakes at Flemington on Oaks day, where she beat a quality field that included Dystopia, Anise and subsequent Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis, giving her a fourth win in just eight starts.

While she still has plenty of improvement in her, Clinton McDonald said the stable has been very pleased with her preparation so far.

''She's going along really well and doing everything right,'' McDonald said.

''She's had a couple of jumpouts coming into this race and has come through them very well.''

McDonald acknowledged that Honey Flower will find Saturday's race tougher than what she encountered in the Spring but said she has come back a little stronger and he expects a good run first up.

''She made some big steps through the grades last time and this is another rise in class.''

''I think she has come back better this time and the 1200 metres should suit first up, so she should be really competitive with no weight on her back.''

McDonald said how Honey Flower performs on Saturday and in her next start will determine whether the Sportingbet Classic is a realistic target.

''Probably everyone with a good sprinting filly or mare is looking at the Sportingbet.''

'''Whether she's up to it or not we will find out in her next couple of starts.''

The McDonalds also have Forty Thirty resuming in the Thoroughbred Club Cup but Clinton McDonald said the five-year-old, which is at his best on rain affected tracks, is likely to need more racing before showing his best.

''He's going along well but it's probably a bit short for him against that class of horse.''

''We'll get a couple of runs into him and look forward to getting him down to Warrnambool over the carnival.'' (www.racingvictoria.net.au)