
THE Group 2 McEwen Stakes and Group 1 Moir Stakes, both at Moonee Valley, will be on the agenda for Miss Leonidas, when the star mare resumes racing next month.
Trainer Shaun Dwyer revealed his spring plans for the classy sprinter ahead of next weekend's Bendigo Trainers' Association horse of the year awards.
The five-year-old mare is one of four nominees for the sprinter of the year and also a leading contender for the horse of the year honour.
A crack field of challengers for the top award, includes fellow sprinters All About Nicci and Like To Think So, from the Kym Hann stable, and the Mick Sell-trained Carlingford.
A second Sell-trained horse, Penny To Sell - a top contender in the middle distance category - will also come under strong consideration for the horse of the year award.
Miss Leonidas has not raced since his second-placed effort in a $125,000 race at Flemington on May 18.
A lucrative 2018-19 season for the daughter of Group 3 winner I Am Invincible included six starts for a win in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes and four city-grade placings for $160,300 in prize money.
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Dwyer said time would tell if the mare had done none enough to be crowned horse of the year.
"She raced very well in good company, but it all comes down to the judges ... no doubt All About Nicci and Carlingford will be in the mix there somewhere,' he said.
"I'd say the horse of the year will come out of that sprinting category.
"The two-year-old and three-year-old categories were a little weaker this year. The industry got down on horses here a little bit, so hopefully we can build back up again.
"There's another trainer (Nick Smart) just come here with 16 horses, so hopefully that all works out well.
"There's a couple of (other) long-term possibilities come here over the next 12 months - if we can get back up to 180 or 200 horses it would be good."
Miss Leonidas returned to the track last Tuesday for an easy trial win and will have another hit-out on August 20.
"She will kick-off in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 8, and then she will run in the Moir on the 28th," said Dwyer, who rates the mare as one of the best horses he has trained.
"She's very fast, probably the fastest I've had.
"Regimental Gal and Villa Verde were very high-class horses and we've probably had a number of other ones along the way, but most of them were staying types.
"It's hard to put a finger on if you had them all in a race, but Regimental Gal has won two Group 1s, which probably puts her above the other two."
Dwyer said Miss Leonidas would return for spring and autumn campaigns before being sent to stud.
Her career earnings stand at $305,800, with four wins and five placings from 13 starts.
Meanwhile, a pair of Dwyer's other runners both had their second run back from a spell at Flemington on Saturday.
The city-winning mare Hay Now finished fourth in a benchmark 84 handicap behind the Danny O'Brien-trained My Pendant, while the five-year-old sprinter Heavenward was sixth of 14 runners in a benchmark 70, won by Ruban Bleu.
Full BTA horse of the year nominees
Two-year-old: Hi Stranger, St Edward's Crown, Travail.
Three-year-old: In Her Honour, Lady Solly, Queen Guinevere, Septzento, Tatunka.
Sprinter: All About Nicci, Carlingford, Like To Think So, Miss Leonidas.
Middle distance: Peninsula Boy, Penny To Sell, Raid The Cabinet
Stayer: Fold, Grassini, Westham.
Picnic: Fold, Norsika.
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