Early spell ends for Ciaron's Star in chase for Golden Slipper spot
Champion of the Pierro Plate, Ciaron's Star, has been pulled from her spell and stands a chance to pursue a delayed Golden Slipper entry if victorious in the Magic Night Stakes held at Rosehill Gardens.
She came home sixth to her stable companion Spicy Miss during her latest outing in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), leading to the call to end her preparation and head to the paddock.
That said, the filly recovered brilliantly, which led trainer Ciaron Maher to bring her back into work and aim her towards securing a berth in an unusually wide-open Golden Slipper.
In the event she misses out, strong thought would go towards the Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) as part of The Championships.
"The original plan was to give her a break after last start, but she had a couple of days in the paddock, and she was feeling very well," Maher's assistant Johann Gerard-Dubord said.
"We thought, it's (Golden Slipper) very open this year, so she will run this week.
"If she happened to win, we could consider the Slipper, but she is second favourite for the Percy Sykes Stakes, so it's hard to bypass that, especially because she is so well."
Ciaron Maher has secured a spot for Spicy Miss in the Golden Slipper (1200m), but Tornado Valley, who placed third in the Magic Millions, is not expected to join, as the stable wants to try him at longer trips.
"Tornado Valley, he probably goes to a Sires' Produce Stakes," Gerard-Dubord said.
"He showed us the other day that 1200 metres is a bit sharp."
Annabel and Rob Archibald plan to unleash newcomer Hellenic Belle in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m), opting to skip a simpler race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The Hellbent daughter impressed in a recent trial and possesses the raw talent to dive straight into elite company for her first appearance.
"We were in (Wednesday), but we have opted to wait and have a throw of the dice at black type first-up," Rob Archibald said.
"We think she has got ability, whether she's ready to do it first-up, I'm not sure. But we can't fault her, and it's a nice lead in to a race like the Percy Sykes Stakes if she shows she is up to that level.
"We like her, she looks talented, and we will learn a bit more about her on Saturday."
The winner of the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) and Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill both earn ballot exemptions for the Golden Slipper (1200m) seven days later.
Visit leading online bookmakers for the latest betting markets for the race at Rosehill Gardens.
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