Darley could emerge from the weekend’s racing with a stranglehold on the $3.5 million Golden Slipper.
It already has the Golden Slipper favourite in Blue Diamond Stakes winner Earthquake and stablemates Memorial and Ghibellines will be given the chance to stake their claims.
Memorial resumes in Saturday’s Lonhro Plate (1100m) at Warwick Farm after two victories in the spring, including one over subsequent Silver Slipper placegetter Press Report.
She is on the fifth line of Slipper betting at $15 but in a reflection of how highly Darley rates Earthquake, jockey Kerrin McEvoy says Memorial still needs to prove herself to the stable.
“She’s still got a bit of ground to make up to get near the top of our two-year-old list but she’s a nice filly going forward,” McEvoy said.
“We’ll know more after Saturday. This will be the best quality field she has run against. It will paint a clearer picture.
“We’ve also got Ghibellines in the Black Opal on Sunday.”
Memorial will face eight rivals including debut winner Brazen Beau and the Gai Waterhouse pair of Wandjina and Donelle who beat home Blue Diamond placegetter Cornrow at Moonee Valley last spring.
McEvoy is also keen to reunite with outstanding filly Guelph in the Group Two Surround Stakes (1400m).
A knee injury caused him to miss the first-up ride on Guelph in the Light Fingers Stakes when she ran unplaced after a tough run.
He is certain she will belie that form on Saturday when she will be ridden more conservatively from an outside draw.
“Nothing went her way the other day and it was probably the closest she has been ridden in a 1200-metre race and it seemed to go against her,” McEvoy said.
“She’s an older horse now too so maybe it will just take her a run to get there.”
