Lady Of The Desert is likely to get her 2011 season under way in the Duke Of York Blue Square Stakes at the Dante meeting in May.
Meehan ace going well
Lady Of The Desert is likely to get her 2011 season under way with a shot at the £100,000 Duke Of York Blue Square Stakes at York on Wednesday, 11th May.
The Brian Meehan-trained four-year-old is one of 34 entries for the six-furlong contest.
The daughter of Rahy is already a course and distance winner at this level, having triumphed in the Jaguar Lowther Stakes as a juvenile. She maintained her upwardly mobile profile in 2010, confirming herself as one of the top sprinters in Europe with an impressive victory in the Group Two Diadem Stakes at Ascot. The filly was also runner-up in two Group Ones, the Haydock Sprint Cup and the Prix de l'Abbaye.
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah, said: "It is the plan to run Lady of the Desert in the Duke of York Stakes.
"She is fine and going well, although she has only just started proper work. She is a very fast filly who can run over both five or six furlongs.
"We hope that she can run well at York before going to Royal Ascot for one of the big sprints there."
Lightly-raced duo Laddies Poker Two and Leahurst catch the remaining entries.
The Jeremy Noseda-trained pair are back in full exercise after both being sidelined with long-term injury problems.
Laddies Poker Two won the Wokingham Stakes on her only start of 2010 while Leahurst also hinted at significant potential when landing back-to-back races at Meydan early last year.
Now, Noseda has entered them along with stable-mate Himalya for the York contest.
The trainer said: "The Duke Of York Stakes is definitely a race that we will consider for both Laddies Poker Two and Leahurst, both of whom are back in full training.
"Leahurst sustained an injury in Dubai that sadly curtailed his four-year-old campaign but I am very happy with him.
"Laddies Poker Two has always been quite a delicate filly to handle but I am pleased with her too at present.
"The plan is for them both to come under consideration for the Duke of York, but we will make our decisions nearer the time.
"Himalya is also an option for the race, but most probably he would find the six-furlong trip a little too sharp for him."
