A Golden Slipper berth will be in the offing for the winner of the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill and trainer John Sargent is hoping his improving filly Autumn Blonde can put her name in the frame.
A daughter of The Autumn Sun, Autumn Blonde finished a game third to subsequent Reisling Stakes runner-up Marhoona first-up at Canterbury then got within a length of smart filly Within The Law when fourth in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).
Sargent was especially taken by the juvenile’s most recent run and from a midfield draw in Saturday’s Slipper lead-up, he won’t be surprised to see Autumn Blonde feature in the finish.
“Her last run she was caught three-wide and got hampered up the straight but still hit the line very well,” Sargent said.
“She seems to have gone on with it and hopefully from the better draw, we can get a better run on Saturday.
“She has shown a bit at home. She just mentally needed to mature more than physically and she is doing that.”
Regan Bayliss partnered Autumn Blonde at Canterbury and will reunite with her at Rosehill where she is a $9.50 chance.
She needs to win to earn a place in Saturday week’s Golden Slipper and will back up if able to qualify.
“She’d go to the Slipper if she pulled up well,” Sargent said.
“Her work was good on Tuesday. Regan Bayliss rode her, he rode her the start before last at Canterbury so he knows her well. I am expecting a very nice run.”
Fourteen fillies will contest the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) with impressive debut winner Strada Varenna a $3.40 favourite with online betting sites, marginally ahead of Inglis Millennium placegetter Artistic Venture ($3.90).
Kiamichi in 2019 was the last two-year-old to claim the Magic Night Stakes-Golden Slipper double.
A field of 12 will tackle the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) for the colts and geldings with Hawkes Racing’s West Of Swindon the $2.90 favourite.
