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By Ray Hickson

She’d be a finalist for Sydney’s best non-Winx mare but Ron Quinton’s Dixie Blossoms is shaping as the forgotten horse in Saturday’s Group 2 $200,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

Trainer Ron Quinton. (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The six-year-old has a reputation for always giving 100 per cent and Quinton expects nothing to change when she steps out of mares company for the first time in 51 weeks.

“In the quality mares races she would be getting a lot of weight so we thought this would be a nice starting point for her,’’ Quinton said.

“She appears as though she is coming up very well again, she’s a bit backward in her coat but she’s the same every year. It takes a little while to come right.

“We’re very confident she will be very competitive.’’

Dixie Blossoms opened under the radar at $11 with TAB in the Tramway, behind Pierata ($3.30), as she begins what is an Epsom Handicap mission in Sydney before a likely third crack at the Myer Classic later in the spring.

She showed in running a close third behind Zousain and Chautauqua in the race day trial at Rosehill last Saturday that she’s purring along in good fashion.

Punters Intel data out of the trial revealed Dixie Blossoms ran the second fastest last 600m of 33.69 behind Chautauqua and also the second best last 200m of 11.10.

“I thought she trialled particularly well, she was there to have a nice solid trial and she had that,’’ Quinton said.

“The 1000m was always going to be a bit sharp but it was like a race. She hasn’t taken one step back since that trial, if anything she’s come on from that.

“Her work has been nice and I’d be expecting her to run a nice race.’’

Quinton pointed out that “most of Dixie’s luck’’ has been at Randwick where she’s won four races, all at Group level, is unbeaten at the Randwick 1400m and only finished worse than fourth once in her last start sixth, beaten three lengths, in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf in the autumn.

It’s likely the mare will tackle either the Group 3 Bill Ritchie (1400m) at Randwick on September 15 or the Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill a week later on the way to the Epsom.

Dixie Blossoms’ usual sparring partner Daysee Doom is set to resume in the Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday week.

Dixie Blossoms runs third in the race day trial at Rosehill last Saturday

Meanwhile, Quinton is hoping to concoct a plan to see evergreen sprinter Boss Lane finish at least third in the Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m) on Saturday.

He concedes the gelding probably can’t beat the two favourites Redzel and Invincible Star but third placing is up for grabs.

“He couldn’t beat Redzel, Invincible Star has a rap on her a mile long but if we ride him the right way he probably can (run third),’’ he said.

“There’s no good trying to burn it up with those others but if we ride him nice and patient it’ll give him the chance to get the best placing.’’

Boss Lane ran third behind Le Romain and Siege Of Quebec in the Show County Quality (1200m) on August 18.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's meeting at Royal Randwick