Roll out the red carpet, glamour girl is back

Forgotten glamour girl Ladies In Red will step-out at the Tabcorp Park Melton trials on Monday night.

Joining her will be another of Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin’s brightest young stars, Major Moth.

The superstar pair have not raced since their respective Vicbred Super Series finals at Melton last New Year’s Eve.

Ladies In Red’s second to stablemate and arch-rival, Tough Tilly in the Vicbred 2YO final, was her first defeat in 10 starts.

Major Moth won five on end, including the Breeders Crown 2YO final, before finishing third in his Vicbred final and subsequently being found to have an injury issue.

In the case of Ladies In Red, it was a conscious decision by Stewart, Tonkin and connections to give her so long out after a busy and hugely successful juvenile season.

“They’ve both come back well and may only need this one trial before going to the races,” Clayton Tonkin said.

“We got Tough Tilly up early for the NSW Oaks and the Gold, but gave Ladies In Red a good break and she seems really well.”

Ladies In Red will target the Victoria Oaks, ahead of the Breeders Crown and Vicbred.

Major Moth has the Victoria Derby and then onto the Crown and Vicbred.

They look set to be joined at Monday’s trials by two of Stewart and Tonkin’s best open-class pacers, Out To Play and Fourbigmen.

“Out To Play is our main Victoria Cup hope, but we’d like to aim that way with Mach Dan as well,” Tonkin said.

Harness Racing Victoria today confirmed the trials would resume as scheduled at Melton from Monday.

By Adam Hamilton for HRV