Mick Price will be attempting a first with three-year-old filly Damselfly in Saturday's Sir John Monash Stakes on her home track at Caulfield.While the weight-for-age sprint has been won on five occasions in its 15 runnings by three-year-olds, no filly has managed to take out the race.Three-year-old Sequalo won the inaugural running in 1994 while Honour The Name (2000), Regal Shot (2001), Dantana (2003) and Lucky Secret (2007) have been successful since.The daughter of Flying Spur has won four o
Mick Price will be attempting a first with three-year-old filly Damselfly in Saturday's Sir John Monash Stakes on her home track at Caulfield.
While the weight-for-age sprint has been won on five occasions in its 15 runnings by three-year-olds, no filly has managed to take out the race.
Three-year-old Sequalo won the inaugural running in 1994 while Honour The Name (2000), Regal Shot (2001), Dantana (2003) and Lucky Secret (2007) have been successful since.
The daughter of Flying Spur has won four of her six starts and a recent jumpout in preparation for the 1100m Listed feature, but Price is mindful that she had to show she could measure up against open sprinters on Saturday.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver, who won the race aboard Regal Shot, takes the ride on Damselfly who is unbeaten in two starts at Caulfield.
Oliver has ridden the filly four times for three wins and a second including a victory in the Group Three Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last October.
Meanwhile, La Goulue is attempting to become the first mare to win the race.
The Danehill Dancer four-year-old, prepared at Caulfield by Peter Moody, earned a shot at the race when she won a 1200m mares event on her home track on May 23.
"We targeted this race after her good first-up win eight weeks ago," Moody said.
"She's a multiple city winner chasing black type. Weight-for-age is certainly against her but the trip and the track are big plusses and, even if she can't win, it would be advantageous to her stud career if she could run a place.
"She's going super well and I'm very pleased with her."
Luke Nolen takes the mount on the mare replacing Jason Benbow on Saturday.
Robert Smerdon, who won the race with Jugulator in 1998 and had the third placegetter Lucky Diva last year, saddles up the Nick Moraitis-owned Global Warming who last start finished an encouraging 1-1/2 length fourth to Gran Sasso over 1000m at Flemington on June 27 when disappointed for a run.
"His run at Flemington was good. I think against him tomorrow are the weight-for-age conditions and his draw (the outside barrier in a field of eight)," Smerdon said.
"He's a horse who needs to get cover and he's probably going to have to get a fair way off them.
"I think he's capable of running well, but I think you would have to concede that the weight scale and where he's going to be in running probably make it a bit tough for him."
Brian Mayfield-Smith has a strong hand in the race with Gran Sasso, chasing his fourth straight win, the $3 favourite with TAB Sportsbet and Orange County ($6).
The brilliant I Am Invincible is at $3.30 with Damselfly at $5.50, Rubiton Stakes winner Mind Your Head at $9, Global Warming at $12 with La Goulue at $23.