Clarry Conners isn’t buying into talk star Darley colt Sepoy might be vulnerable down the Flemington straight six on Saturday.
Conners will start Satin Shoes, the only filly in the race, and is more interested in facts than pondering the vagaries of a racehorse.
“You don’t know, everybody says all those sorts of things,” Conners said.
“It could be the same thing for my filly, she can use her speed to advantage around turns.
“It’s a straight six (furlongs), that’s it, full stop.”
Conners is well credentialled to comment.
Sepoy will be gunning to become the first Golden Slipper winner since the Conners-trained Tierce to return the following spring and claim the Group One sprint.
The Manikato Stakes winner has been completely dominant this spring but despite scoring two of his nine wins down the Flemington straight, his critics have questioned whether he is more effective around a bend.
Sepoy strangles betting as the $1.28 favourite while Satin Shoes is a $51 chance.
Fillies have a terrific recent record winning five of the past 10 runnings with Headway in 2009 the most recent.
Conners said Saturday’s Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington had always been the spring goal for Satin Shoes.
“This is the ultimate three-year-old Group One (sprint). It’s been her aim the whole time,” Conners said.
“The only thing we missed out on was giving her a run at Flemington.”
Satin Shoes has campaigned exclusively in Melbourne this spring and won the Listed Quezette Stakes (1100m) first-up in August.
She was unplaced at her next three runs in Group Three company, but Conners said she did have excuses, before bouncing back to the winner’s stall over 1100m at Caulfield last start.
A jump-and-run type at two, Satin Shoes has learned to relax this time in and Conners is more concerned about her getting an unimpeded run than getting the lead.
“She doesn’t have to lead. When she won her first start down there she didn’t lead, she was up running third,” he said.
“But you should let her run along, I don’t think she likes getting trapped in among horses and getting pushed and bumped around.
“She’s a cranky woman she is.”
Kiwi James McDonald takes over from jockey Craig Williams in the Coolmore Stud Stakes with Williams already committed to Masthead.
Conners has no illusions about the task Satin Shoes faces against Sepoy but says all horses can have an off day.
“He’s a terrific horse, he’s a great horse,” Conners said of Sepoy.
“You just have to hope they’re not there on the day and you are.”
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