Satin Shoes’ trainer Clarry Conners is one of many hoping to take advantage of the absence of Australia’s two best sprinters this spring.
The mare pleased him in an exhibition gallop between races at Warwick Farm on Saturday and will kick-start her campaign in the Listed Starlight Stakes at Rosehill in a pipe-opener to a Melbourne campaign aimed at the Manikato Stakes and Patinack Farm Classic.
“The two Group Ones down there will be the aim,” Conners said.
“She performed fairly well as a three-year-old and she’s much stronger now.”
The carnival will be without the headline sprint stars Black Caviar and Hay List which opens the door for another sprinter to take advantage in the big races.
“That’s a big help,” Conners said.
“That’s horse one and two out of the way. The horse of John O’Shea’s (Foxwedge) has gone to stud as well so that’s another one that won’t be there.
“Other horses will come out of the woodwork but she (Satin Shoes) is doing well.”
Satin Shoes, a Group Two-winner as a two-year-old and Group One-placed at three, worked with stablemate Dee’n’gee at Warwick Farm.
“I thought both horses went very well,” Conners said.
“Nash (Rawiller) was very happy with Satin Shoes and she’s going to run in the Starlight next weekend.
“Nash has been offered the ride and I think he will be able to ride her.
“The other horse (Dee’n’gee) won five from seven last preparation and is a couple of weeks behind Satin Shoes.
“Finding a race for him is hard but he might resume in the Concorde Stakes.”
The Starlight is one of two stakes races on Saturday’s Rosehill program, the other being the Group Three San Domenico Stakes (1100m) for the three-year-olds.
“She’s forward enough for the 1100 metre race,” Conners said of Satin Shoes.
Group One winner Manawanui also stepped out in an exhibition gallop, pleasing jockey Glyn Schofield who said the gelding was just out to stretch his legs over the final 200m.
“Compared to last preparation he’s in much better condition,” Schofield said.
However, trainer Ron Leemon is taking a cautious approach and is looking at options other than the Warwick Stakes on August 25, the traditional spring starting point for Sydney’s middle distance and staying horses.
