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Buoyed by Superstorm’s Moonee Valley success on the weekend, WA owner Bob Peters hopes Inspirational Girl can follow the same path at Flemington on Saturday.
Superstorm locked away a Cox Plate berth and a looming showdown with boom horse Zaaki after he defeated Elephant by a narrow margin in the Feehan Stakes (1600m).
Superstorm improved on his first up run following an eye-catching fourth to Sierra Sue for new trainer Danny O'Brien in the Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Inspirational Girl underlined star power in Perth last year when she won the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m).
In similar vein to Superstorm's first-up effort in Melbourne, Inspirational Girl won admirers with a slashing run in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Stepping out for her first appearance since a second in the Kingston Town Classic (1800m) last December, Inspirational Girl impressed with a fifth to Behemoth.
The Reliable Man mare will headline Peters' Melbourne assault in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
"She's good and had the one run like Superstorm," Peters said on Tabradio.
"They both needed it because of the time they had off.
"I was pleased with her last couple of hundred metres.
"Hopefully she can show us something.
"It's probably going to be a bit stronger field than what Superstorm met on Saturday.
"But you have to come up against them at this time of the year."
Superstorm's Cox Plate progression will take in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Sandown on September 25, where he could run into Zaaki.
Zaaki, a star of the Brisbane winter carnival, picked up where he left off with a stunning win first up in the Saturday's Tramway (1400m) at Randwick.
Peters said the conditions of the Underwood Stakes will aid Superstorm.
"I think 1800m is the ideal distance for him and the big track at Sandown," Peters said.
"Hopefully he's not last and having to come out wide around the whole field.
"I think all the conditions of the race will suit him."
Like all racing fans, Peters was blown away by Zaaki's return win in Sydney.
Along with Verry Elleegant they shape at the horses to beat in the Cox Plate.
Peters is not certain Superstorm can match the pair in the Cox Plate, but he won't be put off by the challenge.
"He'll have a lot of difficulty beating those two horses," Peters said.
"I don't know about the rest of the field.
"Sometimes you don't know what is going to happen between now and then.
"If you get frightened off by one horse in one race you never start your horse.
"We will see what happens going forward."
Peters has kept the door ajar of Superstorm returning to Perth for the Kingston Town Classic in December.
"I'm not committed to anything," Peters said.
"It's the old cliché of one race at a time.
"We'll just see how he goes.
"As he progresses, we'll know what we're doing."
