Sister Madly will run in the How Now Stakes

Flemington trainer John Sadler will take two of his best mares to Caulfield this Saturday to begin their spring campaigns.

Sister Madly will run in the Group 3 How Now Stakes, while Heidilicious will take part in the 1,400 metre Handicap.

Sadler is confident that Sister Madly is capable of clinching her first Group 1 win this spring.

“She’s improved herself about to Group 1 class,” Sadler said.

“She’s going extra well this time in, we’re lucky to have her.

“She’s had soundness issues, but at the moment she’s sound.”

The trainer was reassured by Sister Madly’s recent barrier trial win.

“She came out of the barriers and just arched her neck straight away,” he said.

“It showed us that she’s enjoying it… she’s relaxed.”

Sadler is after a Group 1 win for the Redoute’s Choice mare in order to improve her future value as a broodmare.

“They paid $1 million for her,” Sadler said.

“She’s a half-sister to Silent Witness.

“There’s probably not many mares as well bred in Australia”

Heidilicious will also resume this Saturday after having a three-month spell following her consistent winter campaign in Queensland.

“She opens her campaign on Saturday,” Sadler said.

“She’s heading towards the… Zipping Classic.”

The four-year-old Zabeel mare is notorious for misbehaving in the barrier stalls; however, Sadler employed the help of a barrier blanket since her last start when placing third in the Group 1 Queensland Derby.

“She hasn’t been a problem ever since we put the blanket on her,” Sadler said.

“I’m hopefully she’ll be okay on Saturday.

“I would… expect her to be running on pretty strong this weekend.”

Sadler has opted to be patient with Heidilicious by saving her for next year’s $6 million Melbourne Cup.

“We’ve actually put Heidilicious away as far as the Melbourne Cup is concerned next year,” he said.

“We didn’t think physically and mentally she was quite ready to cope this year.”