Even the most basic of racing enthusiasts know the names Makybe Diva, Black Caviar and Winx.

These mares captivated the country and wider audiences during their periods of dominance over the past three decades.

Plenty of quality thoroughbred stallions are sent to stud early in their careers, but there has been more headline galloping mares that have been able to compete with and dominate their male counterparts compared to the standardbred.

In recent times, we have seen Amazing Dream take out races in Australia like the Kilmore Cup, The Rising Sun and Blacks A Fake through the open class ranks. Her record when she took on the boys was outstanding, yet she still wasn’t really considered a household name outside the industry.

Enter Ladies In Red.

In a little-known fact, we are lucky to even have her here after her dam, Broodmare of the Year Kabbalah Karen B, almost lost her life due to foaling complications back in 2015.

There is no doubt that Ladies In Red has inherited her mother’s toughness and ability to defy the odds.

Widely spoken about as the best three-year-old filly we have seen since potentially Tailamade Lombo in the 90s, there was no doubting her star power.

What we have all been waiting with anticipation to see was her take it up to the boys. And on Saturday night at Albion Park, we as racing fans got to witness something special. A quality field of Group 1 three and four-year-olds were no match as the horse affectionally known as “Willow” found the front and showed her brilliant speed late to draw away from the field.

While there is little chance we will see her in a Victoria Cup or Inter Dominion series with so many races to contest against her own age and sex this year, the good news is that owners Anne and Bill Anderson have said she will likely compete into her five-year-old season.

Every race that Ladies In Red lines up in is exciting and while the future is always unknown, she could be the one, the mare, that people with little knowledge of harness racing remember as a household name for years to come.

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.