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By Ray Hickson

If it’s good enough for boom filly Passeggiata, then it’s good enough for Lavish Empire.

Trainer Mark Newnham (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Trainer Mark Newnham recognises it’s not easy for a horse to win a maiden then jump straight to a Saturday grade race.

But that’s the task ahead of the three-year-old as he attempts to repeat Passeggiata’s feat and inflict defeat on her for the first time in the Grainshaker Australian Vodka Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Lavish Empire beat three rivals by over seven lengths on a heavy track at Canterbury two weeks ago and heads into the Benchmark 72 race.

“This is the most suitable race for his second start so it will be interesting to see how he measures up,’’ Newnham said.

“But the horse that’s favourite went from winning a maiden at Gosford to winning a Saturday race so it can be done.

“The favourite has to take Gosford and Rosehill form to Randwick which is a test but we’re taking a huge jump as well.”

After landing in front on debut, Lavish Empire had little more than a barrier trial as he revelled in the wet ground at least a lot more than his rivals did.

Newnham said the fact he only had a few combatants shouldn’t be held against him and is looking forward to seeing a different side to the gelding, $6 with TAB on Friday, as it’s unlikely he’ll be setting the pace this time around.

“He’s always shown above average ability so it wasn’t a surprise that he won it was probably just the surprise in the margin,’’ he said.

“What was pleasing was he showed a good turn of foot.

"He’s a horse that’s a very laid back worker, I had a ride on him (Thursday) morning and he just floats about. Thus I put blinkers on for his first start which certainly made a difference.

“It’ll be a different test for him, he’ll have a lot more rivals and he won’t be leading that’s for sure with Passeggiata in the race.

“Where he finishes up in running will be interesting but I’m sure he will be strong late. If he could settle somewhere in that first four it would be terrific.”

In-form mare Chenin is relishing the dry tracks of late as she sets her sights on three wins from her past five starts in the Fujitsu General Handicap (1600m).

The only blemish on her recent form is a failure in the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf but Newnham said that’s already been wiped from the record with her gutsy last start win at Warwick Farm.

“If you look at her form she’s only been unplaced once on dry ground and that was in the Belle Of The Turf which obviously is a much better class race but she got stuck behind a tiring runner from the 600m and never got into the race,’’ he said.

“She showed the other day up on top of the ground he’s got a good turn of foot, she’s just a mare with a bit of confidence and in good form.”

Meanwhile, Newnham will wheel out several of his autumn carnival prospects at Monday’s Randwick trials including his Everest runner Joyful Fortune, Matcha Latte, Expat, Sunshine Rising and King Frankel.

Lavish Empire wins at Canterbury on January 6

Joyful Fortune followed his deep end run in the TAB Everest with a Listed win at Flemington and that’s where he’ll be headed for his first-up run in the Black Caviar Lightning next month.

“My better class horses are stepping out we’ll know in the next three months how good they are,’’ he said.

“Joyful Fortune is a very good horse on the straight course so we might as well go for gold first-up.

“The race he ended up winning was the race I had in mind all preparation, it was only the second run that deviated because we were offered an Everest slot.

“I think he’s a better horse this time in. He took a lot of work to get race fit last preparation and I haven‘t had to be hard on him this time around.”

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