Kelly Schweida believes Plain Magic's clash with unbeaten mare Chakvetadze at Eagle Farm is an ideal test of her future Brisbane winter carnival aspirations.Plain Magic and Chakvetadze will meet for the second time in their careers in Saturday's Listed XXXX Gold Nudgee Fillies and Mares Handicap (1200m).The only time they met was when Plain Magic finished fifth, almost five lengths behind Chakvetadze in a 1200-metre three-year-old fillies race at Eagle Farm in April last year.Both mares have mad
Kelly Schweida believes Plain Magic's clash with unbeaten mare Chakvetadze at Eagle Farm is an ideal test of her future Brisbane winter carnival aspirations.
Plain Magic and Chakvetadze will meet for the second time in their careers in Saturday's Listed XXXX Gold Nudgee Fillies and Mares Handicap (1200m).
The only time they met was when Plain Magic finished fifth, almost five lengths behind Chakvetadze in a 1200-metre three-year-old fillies race at Eagle Farm in April last year.
Both mares have made significant improvement since with Chakvetadze on trial for a Sydney autumn campaign while Schweida is looking at the Group One Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June with Plain Magic.
The daughter of Magic Albert stamped herself as a genuine winter contender following her explosive three length victory in the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Quality (1300m) at the Gold Coast on January 9.
It was her fifth victory from 13 starts for Racetree Stud principal Kevin Dixon, who also is chairman of Brisbane Racing Club.
Schweida compares Plain Magic favourably to Nova Star who gave the former Townsville trainer his only Group One success so far in the Winter Stakes in 2007.
"They are different types as Plain Magic likes to race more forward than Nova Star did but there's not much between them at the same stages of their careers," Schweida said.
"Plain Magic has improved a lot and she keeps getting better with every run.
"I think Plain Magic is more sharper of the two and is more of a sprinter and 1400 metres will probably pull her up."
Since retiring to the stud barn, Nova Star lost her first foal to Redoute's Choice and is now in foal to Danehill Dancer.
Schweida plans to give Plain Magic a short break after she runs again in a fortnight.
"I'll give her one more run before giving her a break," he said.
"I want to bring her back for the Silk Stocking then if she measures up we'll go after the Winter Stakes."
The Listed Silk Stocking (1300m) will be run at the Gold Coast on May 8 with the Group One Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 26.
Nova Star won the Silk Stocking and Group Two QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on her way to winning the Winter Stakes.
"I think she's got the scope to go on to the Winter Stakes but she's still got to find a couple more lengths improvement," Schweida said.
"She's running into a smart field tomorrow. It's only small but full of quality.
"Chakvetadze hasn't done anything wrong to date and is unbeaten so she's obviously our danger.
"With Alverta in the race the weights help my mare as she drops four kilos to 53 kilos."