Raceday LIVE – Lady Mendoza
Perth,
Wed 24 Sep 2025 17:25
Related horse(s):
Lady Mendoza
Lady Mendoza heads to Perth today as she takes on nine rivals in the Class 5 Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle (17:25) over three miles.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track across our social channels on X (@CRCofficial) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Our eight-year-old mare continues to seek her first win of her career as she makes the trip from Durham to Perth this afternoon. Since putting in a decent effort at Cartmel back in May when coming home in fourth place, she's not been able to back that up in any of her next three races.
Her run at Cartmel was off a mark of 90, and now she has dropped to a mark of 85 which is her lowest yet. However, that hasn't dampened the hopes of trainer Rebecca Menzies who continues to believe that she's more than capable of getting her head in front. That sentiment is echoed by former champion jockey Brian Hughes, who as we know has been a loyal servant in the saddle with Lady Mendoza, and he will once again partner her in this afternoon's contest.
WATCH: Brian Hughes reflects on Lady Mendoza's most recent Cartmel performance
Pretty much every other week Rebecca is glowing about how Lady Mendoza has been working better than some of her stablemates, some rated higher than her, but for some reason she just hasn't been able to replicate it in competitive action. Frustratingly, this can be a common feature with racehorses, but sometimes it can just click into place one day for them and then they finally get their head in front.
Interestingly, since the beginning of last summer, two of Lady Mendoza's best efforts came at Perth in back-to-back performances last year when she finished fourth on both occasions. Today will be the first time she runs at the track since then, so perhaps a return to the scene may spark some more life into her.
Raceday message from trainer Rebecca Menzies
"Lady Mendoza seems really fresh and well in herself ahead of today. The ground is to her liking and this is about as low a grade of three mile handicap hurdles you can get and it's not the most competitive, so hopefully it will give her some confidence.
We'll aim to sit handy with her and keep things straight forward. She's ran well at Perth before so fingers crossed she can repeat that because she definitely deserves to get her first win for the Coral Racing Club."
Chris Dixon, Racing TV analyst, previews today's 17:25 Class 5 Handicap Hurdle at Perth
Lady Mendoza has another go at breaking her maiden at Perth today in a race that should provide a suitable test. A staying trip on decent ground appears to be exactly what Lady Mendoza wants to run her best race, and she’s shown enough at Perth in the past to suggest the track is suitable. That said, her best efforts tend to come with a good break between runs and I’m unconvinced 32 days is enough for her to produce her best and there’s no doubt she has her own ideas to a degree and isn’t the most enthusiastic. That lack of enthusiasm has regularly caught her out, hitting a flat spot before running on having been the case more than once. As such, it’s hard to be confident she can get her head in front for the first time, though if running up to her best she won’t be far away.
Anaconda has some similar traits to Lady Mendoza but looks a danger on best form, but she might be sharper for this first run since the spring. That leaves the in-form Burgundy Man looking like one of the main dangers, though he is also a long standing maiden, and perhaps the toughest opponent will prove to be the unexposed Zeezee. She only has five starts under her belt at this point and went with plenty of encouragement on her stable and handicap debut at Hexham last month. A strong-finishing fifth over 2m4f on a stiff track that day, she strikes as the type to improve up in trip and a small amount of progress should be enough to see her win for the first time.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Rebecca Menzies last 19 runners have resulted in one winner and six additional top three finishes. So far this season she's sent three runners to Perth but none have come away with the spoils, but with four entries there this afternoon, she may be hoping that she can change that record today.
Brian Hughes has ridden the second most winners at Perth so far this season with five, and the former champion jockey has a vast amount of experience at the Scottish track with over 850 rides to his name so far in his career, including 131 winners which is a really impressive win-rate.
Lady Mendoza's Owners for the Day
As winners of our recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Lady Mendoza's race at Perth this afternoon.
What's included in an Owner for the Day prize?
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track across our social channels on X (@CRCofficial) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Our eight-year-old mare continues to seek her first win of her career as she makes the trip from Durham to Perth this afternoon. Since putting in a decent effort at Cartmel back in May when coming home in fourth place, she's not been able to back that up in any of her next three races.
Her run at Cartmel was off a mark of 90, and now she has dropped to a mark of 85 which is her lowest yet. However, that hasn't dampened the hopes of trainer Rebecca Menzies who continues to believe that she's more than capable of getting her head in front. That sentiment is echoed by former champion jockey Brian Hughes, who as we know has been a loyal servant in the saddle with Lady Mendoza, and he will once again partner her in this afternoon's contest.
WATCH: Brian Hughes reflects on Lady Mendoza's most recent Cartmel performance
Pretty much every other week Rebecca is glowing about how Lady Mendoza has been working better than some of her stablemates, some rated higher than her, but for some reason she just hasn't been able to replicate it in competitive action. Frustratingly, this can be a common feature with racehorses, but sometimes it can just click into place one day for them and then they finally get their head in front.
Interestingly, since the beginning of last summer, two of Lady Mendoza's best efforts came at Perth in back-to-back performances last year when she finished fourth on both occasions. Today will be the first time she runs at the track since then, so perhaps a return to the scene may spark some more life into her.
Raceday message from trainer Rebecca Menzies
"Lady Mendoza seems really fresh and well in herself ahead of today. The ground is to her liking and this is about as low a grade of three mile handicap hurdles you can get and it's not the most competitive, so hopefully it will give her some confidence.
We'll aim to sit handy with her and keep things straight forward. She's ran well at Perth before so fingers crossed she can repeat that because she definitely deserves to get her first win for the Coral Racing Club."
Chris Dixon, Racing TV analyst, previews today's 17:25 Class 5 Handicap Hurdle at Perth
Lady Mendoza has another go at breaking her maiden at Perth today in a race that should provide a suitable test. A staying trip on decent ground appears to be exactly what Lady Mendoza wants to run her best race, and she’s shown enough at Perth in the past to suggest the track is suitable. That said, her best efforts tend to come with a good break between runs and I’m unconvinced 32 days is enough for her to produce her best and there’s no doubt she has her own ideas to a degree and isn’t the most enthusiastic. That lack of enthusiasm has regularly caught her out, hitting a flat spot before running on having been the case more than once. As such, it’s hard to be confident she can get her head in front for the first time, though if running up to her best she won’t be far away.
Anaconda has some similar traits to Lady Mendoza but looks a danger on best form, but she might be sharper for this first run since the spring. That leaves the in-form Burgundy Man looking like one of the main dangers, though he is also a long standing maiden, and perhaps the toughest opponent will prove to be the unexposed Zeezee. She only has five starts under her belt at this point and went with plenty of encouragement on her stable and handicap debut at Hexham last month. A strong-finishing fifth over 2m4f on a stiff track that day, she strikes as the type to improve up in trip and a small amount of progress should be enough to see her win for the first time.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Rebecca Menzies last 19 runners have resulted in one winner and six additional top three finishes. So far this season she's sent three runners to Perth but none have come away with the spoils, but with four entries there this afternoon, she may be hoping that she can change that record today.
Brian Hughes has ridden the second most winners at Perth so far this season with five, and the former champion jockey has a vast amount of experience at the Scottish track with over 850 rides to his name so far in his career, including 131 winners which is a really impressive win-rate.
Lady Mendoza's Owners for the Day
As winners of our recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Lady Mendoza's race at Perth this afternoon.
What's included in an Owner for the Day prize?
- Free racecourse entry
- Access to the Owners & Trainers enclosure
- Access to the Parade Ring before the race
- Meet Lady Mendoza and the Rebecca Menzies team
- Take home a 10% share of any prize money he wins
Prize Money
Today's Class 5 contest is worth £8,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop a £4,224 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,964 | 3rd: £972 | 4th: £486 | 5th: £242
Pipped At The Post – Exclusive for Members
Get paid as a WINNER in CASH up to a stake of £/€10 if your horse finishes 2nd by a neck or less behind the winner in today's 17:25 at Perth – click here to find out more.
17:25 PERTH – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 17:25 to watch Lady Mendoza's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
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