Clarry Conners’ hopes of a fifth Golden Slipper have diminished with his leading contender Aegean Sea sidelined for six months with a leg injury.
The Warwick Farm trainer had identified the filly as the most forward of his juvenile team and his best chance of winning the $3.5 million Slipper in March.
Aegean Sea
A winner on debut last month, she missed a scheduled start on Saturday and the extent of her injury means a long spell.
Conners will now turn his immediate attention to Look To The Stars in the hope she can make the necessary progress to the major juvenile races after she makes her debut this week.
Just when and where that will be is still undecided.
The filly is entered for a race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday but Conners is also tempted by the $250,000 prize money in Saturday’s Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick.
“It’s very disappointing that Aegean Sea won’t be going to the Slipper. She needs six months out,” Conners said.
“Look To The Stars is a nice filly. She ran fourth in her first trial behind Aegean Sea and second in her second trial.
“I’m undecided about what to do with her this week.
“She is an Inglis filly so the race on Saturday is a temptation.
“I will just have to talk it over with her owners and decide what to do.”
Fare Well is a definite Randwick runner in the Listed Razor Sharp (1200m) with Conners keen to snare a stakes win with the well-bred mare.
The Exceed And Excel four-year-old is out of 2003 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove and is a half sister to the as yet unraced Emaratee, a $4 million yearling in 2013 at the Easter Sale.
“She will win one of these races one day,” Conners said.
“The 1200 metres will suit her and if it keeps raining the soft track won’t worry her either.”
Fare Well finished fourth in the Starlight Stakes on November 29 won by Our Boy Malachi who was among the nine entries taken on Monday for the Razor Sharp.
