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Luke Currie to extract the best from Pretty Brazen.

Father-and-son training combination Tony and Calvin McEvoy are hoping the addition of winkers will extract the best from Pretty Brazen in the $1 million Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. 

Pretty Brazen showed her class earlier in the spring when she downed Arcadia Queen in the Group 2 Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) before stepping up to Group 1 company, finishing in the minor money in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last month. 

The daughter of Brazen Beau has been a little below her best in two subsequent performances, finishing seventh in the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October 3 and then fifth in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield a fortnight later. 

While the performances may look below par on paper, Calvin McEvoy said they were better than they appeared. 

"We've been pleased with her all preparation," McEvoy said. 

"Her last run looked a bit disappointing when you watch it, but doing the figures they went very slow, she got back from a wide gate, then they ran a really slick 400 metres. 

"I think the eight horses in the race had the quickest last 400 metres of the meeting. 

"She's bounced through it really well and has done some nice sharp work with the winkers on." 

McEvoy also expects getting back to Flemington will be a plus on Saturday. 

"She's been up for a long time now and I think she's really looking for the mile," McEvoy said. 

"This has been her target race from the beginning." 

Luke Currie continues his association with the mare on Saturday after partnering Group 1 winner Mystic Journey, an opponent on Saturday, to victory in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September 25. 

Pretty Brazen has had specking since TAB opened their first markets on the race, firming from $15 to $14. 

Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner Odeum heads the market at $3.60 with Mystic Journey second pick at $4.40.