Wallacia Mist, bought for "not a lot of money" for her potential as a brood bitch, has become a racetrack star and on Wednesday night will be on trial for a start in the Group Two Ladbrokes Richmond Oaks.
Heats of the Oaks will be held over 520m at Richmond on February 23 with the $50,000 to the winner final on March 1.
Wallacia Mist has won her two Richmond races by margins totalling 15 lengths in smart times of 29.52 and 29.65 but faces her toughest test on Wednesday when she takes on the unbeaten Not Without in the Ladbrokes Live Betting 1-4 Wins Final over 520m.
Not Without, whose four wins - three at Richmond and one at Wentworth Park - have totalled 26 lengths, has box six while Wallacia Mist has drawn eight.
Not Without led all the way to win his heat in a best of the night 29.47 while Wallacia Mist began brilliantly and wasn't headed in 29.65.
Luke Brown, trainer of Wallacia Mist, said: "I was hoping my bitch would draw inside Not Without in the final.
"Wallacia Mist was originally from Victoria then went to Queensland and we bought her from there.
"To be honest, she had not chasing properly but because she was so well bred we purchased her with a view to acquiring a good brood bitch.
"After giving her a spell I was in the process of deciding which stud dog to put her to when I trialled her over 320m at Richmond.
"When I collected the ticket to indicate what time she had run it said 18.20.
"Leading trainer Sam Sultana had trialled before me and I thought he must have forgotten to pick up his dog's ticket time because I couldn't believe Wallacia Mist could go so fast, not far outside the track record.
"So I took her back a week later and when she clocked 18.16 over the Richmond 320m trip so I realised she had suddenly switched on to racing.
"Wallacia Mist has trialled brilliantly in a box-to-box hit-out at Wentworth Park so I plan to give her a 520m race there on February 9.
"Then I will concentrate on getting her ready for the Richmond Oaks.''
Brown has been training on his own for "five or six years" but grew up assisting his father, the late Gary Brown, a successful trainer who passed away at the Richmond track in 2018.
Wallacia Mist
Like Luke, who has been impressive in winning his past three Bulli races, over 515m and 590m, makes his first appearance at Richmond in Wednesday night's 622m GRNSW Middle Distance Series Stakes.
Trainer Ruth Matic believes the dog will handle the step up to 622m but is terribly disappointed at her dog's box eight draw.
Hardest for Like Luke to beat could be Ritza Trish, despite her being the winner of just one race.
Ritza Trish finished powerfully to win a 520m maiden at Dapto on January 11 before being beaten less than a length when third over 622m at Richmond last week.
Daniel Gatt, whose brother Mark trains Ritza Trish, said: "When she railed up to be close to the leaders on the home turn last Wednesday we thought she would win for sure.
"Ritza Trish is very strong but I must admit we were disappointed when she 'died' on her run slightly in the straight.
"But we have a good opinion of her and she is normally very strong at the finish of her races.''
Ritza Trish has a perfect draw on Wednesday because she is a good railer and should get a clear run from the bend start as Ain't Waiting, a notoriously wide runner, has box two.
