Charlotte Littlefield believes Concord Connie is primed to deliver her a maiden Group 1 success in the $1 million Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington.
The positive outlook is partly based on the assessment of French track work rider Valentin Leboeuf, who delivered the glowing report Littlefield wanted to hear.
"He said she's pigrooting, squealing and absolutely off her chops - so she's ready to run the race of her life," Littlefield said.
Concord Connie will be ridden by champion jockey Craig Williams, who believes the four-year-old bay brings the "X-factor" to Saturday's race with Pride Of Jenni out of action.
Chris Waller-trained Lady Shenandoah is a $2.40 favourite from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's Surfin' Bird ($4.60), with Concord Connie ($5.50) on the third line of betting.
"She's so loving, she wants to be here, she's naturally competitive and she's got real attitude," Littlefield said.
"Since she started winning races here last preparation, geez, she's just pumped that chest out and gone to another level.
"So I hope we see the real Concord Connie fly."
A maiden Group 1 triumph on Victoria Derby day at Flemington would be a tale of triumph for Littlefield, who arrived in Australia from the UK two decades ago with just a backpack and no background in horse racing.
At that stage, she was ready to "get amongst it" Down Under and enjoy life, but soon fell in love with the sport and went on to build the "boutique" Hayfields Racing stable.
Littlefield has been buoyed by recent major triumphs by fellow underdog trainers Gavin Bedggood and Andrea Leek, who won the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate respectively over the past fortnight.
"We're a small team. I've got 32 (horses) in work, we work 24 hours a day and it just never stops," Littlefield said.
"It's our whole life and for us to win a Group 1 ... hopefully it's not the only one we win.
"We want to go on to great things and win a major, but this would be absolutely sensational."
So, too, would the celebrations - in their own way.
"There will be a bottle of Fireball probably emptied into that trophy ... and we'll definitely be taking the team out," Littlefield said.
"We've got a local pub called the Garfield Hotel and I'm sure they'll get a few of us down there.
"As much as I'd love to go somewhere real fancy and drink some nice champagne, we'll have to keep it real."
