Trainer Donna Scott is preparing six runners for Tuesday’s Albury race meeting, where wet and heavy track conditions are expected to dominate. Among her entries, only one horse, Bessie La Belle, has demonstrated consistent success on heavy tracks, making her the standout in testing conditions at her home course.

Bessie La Belle, a daughter of Keramadec, is well-suited to the heavy going, reflecting her dam La Cachette’s impressive record on rain-affected surfaces. La Cachette won twice by significant margins on heavy tracks during her career. Bessie La Belle herself has compiled three wins and three placings from 11 starts, boasting a 50 percent win rate on Heavy 9-rated tracks. Scott indicated the 1175-meter race would suit the mare’s first-up return and expressed optimism about her chances on Tuesday.

The Albury Wodonga Plastering Services Benchmark 66 Handicap represents a pivotal moment for Bessie La Belle’s campaign, as a fourth win would render her ineligible for future Highways races. Scott weighed the option of targeting a Highway event but noted that Bessie La Belle was not quite ready when that plan was first considered. “If she doesn't happen to win on Tuesday, it will definitely be on the radar to go to Sydney,” Scott said, adding that the mare’s preference for wet tracks plays a significant role in her strategy.

Scott and jockey Blaike McDougall will also combine forces with two related horses, Lord Of Valor and Lord Limerick, both sharing a common granddam, Cashed Up Lady, linking them to the dam line of renowned mare Herowinkle, foaled in 1924. Herowinkle’s lineage includes the celebrated Hall Mark, notable for major victories such as the Doncaster and Sydney Derby, as well as the Melbourne Cup.

Lord Of Valor resumes racing in the Skybridge Financial Maiden Plate over 900 meters. The gelding has been out of action for eight months but impressed in a recent trial. Scott confirmed he is in sound condition heading into the event but expressed some reservations about how he will handle the heavy track surface.

Lord Limerick, meanwhile, seeks a third consecutive win following back-to-back front-running victories at Corowa over 1400 and 1600 meters. Scott said she has recently found the right distance for the horse, which has helped unlock his potential. Despite carrying a heavy weight over the wet track, his size may help him manage the conditions.

A successful meeting for Scott could be capped off by a victory from her stable’s favorite, Forte Cheval, who is set to contest the HIB Insurance Class 2 Handicap over 1400 meters. Priced at $2.80, Forte Cheval has been in strong form across 11 starts, most recently winning at Corowa on June 1. While the gelding has not yet raced on a heavy surface, Scott believes he has the ability to adapt. A favorable barrier draw adds to the optimism surrounding his chances on Tuesday.