QUEANBEYAN trainer Neville Layt said he aims to have three gallopers contesting Listed-classed events in next Sunday’s feature race day at Thoroughbred Park.

Layt confirmed two-year-old Red Excitement will take his place in the $250,000 Kambera Wine Company Black Opal Stakes, while Our Brightest Star and Fille Vilaine will contest the $100,000 Affinity Construction Management Canberra Guineas.

Red Excitement will follow in the footsteps of Layt’s stable star Karuta Queen in contesting Canberra’s flagship race.

Karuta Queen went in to last year’s event as the short-priced favourite but was beaten on the day by the Gratz Vella-trained You’re Canny.

While Layt acknowledged his latest juvenile star hadn’t shown as much form leading in to the Listed event as Karuta Queen did last year, he still expected plenty from the youngster.

”I believe Red Excitement will be very competitive in this year’s Black Opal,” Layt said.

”He went really good last start and won like a good horse does and he’s pulled up a treat since then.”

Red Excitement has only contested races over the 1000-metre trip and will have to travel a further 200 metres in next Sunday’s race.

Layt said the extra journey will suit the two-year-old who he expects to be eventually racing over the mile.

”I believe he has taken a lot from that last run, and the 1200 metres will suit him even better,” he said.

”He will be able to relax a little bit more over the 1200 metres and he has a good turn of speed when he needs it.”

Fellow stable stars Our Brightest Star and Fille Vilaine are aimed at lining up in the Canberra Guineas with the latter being only a recent inclusion to Layt’s roster.

”John O’Shea had Fille Viliane but she’s been transferred down to me now and she will run in the Guineas next Sunday,” he said.

Our Brightest Star has placed in each of her six outings this time which has included two wins, with the latest at the Canberra venue.

”Our Brightest Star has been going very, very good this campaign and I expect that form to continue in the Guineas,” said Layt.

The Queanbeyan trainer expects both three-year-old fillies to be competitive in the $100,000 event with both having won over the 1400 metres already in their respective careers.

Next weekend’s bumper race day at Thoroughbred Park will feature four Listed-classed events with total prize earnings in excess of $750,000 from the eight race card.