“I was absolutely thrilled. I wasn’t sure whether she was going to get into the field or not but she did enough on Friday night in the Robin Dundee Stakes to get in so I am rapt.” Dymondee faced her biggest test in the Robin Dundee Stakes when she competed against Misty Miller and Flamin Yomax, two mares who have both competed at group one level in the past. Dymondee finished off strongly for third place beaten a neck.

“She really put in on Friday night and it surprised me because at the top of the straight I thought she was only going to poke along the last little bit, but as soon as she saw Flamin Yomax she found another gear and really tried hard right to the line. To finish so close to the two class mares in the race was a great effort.”

The barrier draw has been kind to Blacks A Fake half sister with the mare drawing in gate five but is likely to start from barrier three with two emergencies drawn on her inside. “It’s a good draw without being perfect. Obviously I would have loved to have drawn inside Fleur De Lil because she does look the mare to beat. I don’t think I can get across to the lead but there will be fireworks because the race is only over a mile and there is no use going back in a race like this.”

Newton is undecided on what the future plans will be for Dymondee after Friday night. “She will get a short break after the Ladyship, she deserves it. Then I am looking at two races for mares. One is in Victoria and the other is in Tasmania so if she performs well on Friday night then I plan to take her interstate.”

The Cordina Chicken Farms Ladyship Mile is the feature race on the card at Harold Park on Friday night. It is race five on the eight event programme and will begin at 9pm.