Clarry Conners is expecting his Crown Oaks winner Dear Demi to be right in the finish when she steps out for the first time this Autumn in the Group 2 $175,000 Light Fingers Stakes(1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Dear Demi with Jim Cassidy winning the Crown Oaks in the Spring. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Dear Demi has shown that her best distances are over a longer journey but Conners says that the Dehere filly will be very competitive over the 1200m at her first start since winning the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 8.
“She is just right for 1200 metres,” Conners said.
“She’s a bit fresh. I expect her to be running home but I also expect her to go well.
“She is beautiful and this race suits her.
Dear Demi will be trying to add the Group 1 $550,000 ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 20 to already impressive record.
After winning the Group 2 $175,000 Coolmore Furious Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on September 8, Dear Demi ran third to Norzita in the Group 1 $400,000 Coolmore Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 6.
Conners then took the three year old filly to Melbourne where she was runner-up to Commanding Jewel in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 17 before finishing fourth to Zydeco in the Group 2 $300,000 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 3 prior to her Oaks victory.
The top Warwick Farm trainer plans to progress Dear Demi through the Sydney Autumn Carnival increasing her distance as she goes along.
The 1500m Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on March 23 will be Dear Demi’s first Group 1 assignment before stepping up in distance to the 2000m Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on April 6.
Dear Demi will then be ready to tackle the 2400m of the Australian Oaks two weeks later and hopefully add another Oaks to her record.
Veteran jockey Jim Cassidy will be reassociated with the John Singleton owned filly after being her regular rider for the latter part of the Spring Carnival including the Crown Oaks win.
Dear Demi will be up against several smart short course fillies in the Light Fingers Stakes including Grahame Begg’s Magic Millions winner against the fillies and mares and Gai Waterhouse’s two year old Magic Millions winner Driefontein.
