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By Ray Hickson

There’s no set spring plan for talented mare Lilac prior to kicking off her campaign at Rosehill on Saturday but co-trainer Rob Archibald says he does like the look of the $2m The Invitation.

Trainer Rob Archibald (Pic: Grant Guy)

Lilac carried herself with distinction as she mixed it with emerging star Lady Shenandoah earlier this year, running third in the Light Fingers and fourth in the Group 1 Surround, and Archibald said he can only hope she makes a similar transition to her four-year-old year.

There is a small caveat going into the Group 2 $300,000 Irresistible Pools Sheraco Stakes (1200m) is that Archibald would like an improving track, which is on the cards.

“She was excellent last preparation,’’ he said.

“She started in all the big races and I thought she did a fantastic job culminating in that last win in the James Carr.

“She’s going to have to take that next step into more open company but we think she’s got the ability to do it.

“I wouldn’t say we’re quite where Lady Shenandoah is, but she can be very competitive in a race like this.

“Most of her form is on better ground so obviously it’s a bit of an unknown on the heavy, soft seems okay, but she goes there in good order and is there to run well.”

Lilac, $11 with TAB on Thursday, will have to mix it with Lady Shenandoah’s stablemate Joliestar, who looms large over the Sheraco, but Archibald said his mare has had a smooth build up and can make some use of the inside barrier.

It's worth noting that Annabel and Rob Archibald did manage to lower the colours of Joliestar in the race last year as recently retired mare Sunshine In Paris won the Sheraco for the second year running.

“She’s very fast, we’re happy with the way she’s come back,’’ he said.

“She’s had a jump out and a trial, she’ll take good benefit from her first-up run.”

The $2 million The Invitation is run on October 25 over the same course as Lilac’s last start win in the Group 3 James JB Carr Stakes (1400m) at the end of the autumn carnival so it’s no surprise it could be on the mare’s radar.

“That’s about her perfect distance, we’ll get through Saturday and that will tell us a bit more,’’ he said.

“Who knows where she is going to end up this time in but she’s a talented mare now and we’re looking forward to her resuming.”

A bit of give in the ground won’t harm the chances of imported galloper Seven’s in the TAB Handicap (1800m) after he was an eye-catcher in his second-up run two weeks ago.

After a first-up win, the five-year-old dropped slightly in distance and produced the meeting’s fastest last 200m of 11.12 (Punter's Intelligence) as he motored through the pack to run fourth behind stablemate Cristal Clear who led the race.

Archibald said the rise in distance is a plus and whatever conditions prevail won’t bother him.

“He was really good last start. He’s come back well, his two runs have been good and I think he’s going well,’’ he said.

Lilac runs third in a Rosehill trial on August 28

“He gets a nice set up, a little bit of a sticky gate but if he can overcome that then he shouldn’t be too far away.

“We’ll have a good look at the race and make a plan, he’s stepping up from the 1500m and he’s a horse that can certainly handle it.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting