Clarry Conners’ hopes of a fifth Golden Slipper rest squarely on the performance of Assail in Saturday’s Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill.
The trainer has entrusted Craig Williams to get the best out of the filly who has been battling a well documented hoof problem which surfaced on the morning of the Magic Millions in January forcing her withdrawal from the $2 million race.
Williams, who rode Criterion to win the Todman Stakes on Saturday, was due to replace a suspended Peter Robl in the Magic Millions.
Only $50,000 of Assail’s $212,000 prize money counts towards a start in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper in April 6 with most of her earnings from Magic Millions restricted races, placing her 28th in the latest order of entry.
Conners was hoping to take the pressure off by winning the Sweet Embrace Stakes with the filly but a bad start cost her and she finished sixth, prompting a change in rider from Robl to Williams.
“She has to win, it’s as simple as that,” Conners said.
“Otherwise she doesn’t get a run in the Slipper.
“She’s come through the Sweet Embrace well and the foot’s good.
“Her problems had nothing to do with how she went. It was because she missed the start and got into trouble.
“Craig Williams was available. I think he’s the best rider in Australia so I’ve put him on.”
The winners of Saturday’s Magic Night Stakes and the Pago Pago Stakes for colts and geldings are guaranteed starts in the Golden Slipper although second prize of $35,000 might be enough to scrape in.
But it won’t be enough for Conners who wants to see the filly display the form that won her the Wyong Magic Millions to confirm she is a realistic chance in a high pressure Slipper.
There were 19 entries taken on Monday for the Sweet Embrace and 17 for the Pago Pago including All The Talk who earned a Slipper start with his Skyline Stakes victory.
Overreach, a dominant winner over Villa Verde in Saturday’s Reisling Stakes, is the TAB’s $2.10 favourite to win the Slipper for Gai Waterhouse.
