Golden Slipper path opens for Pembrey following Magic Night Stakes triumph

James McDonald guided Pembrey to set the tempo wire-to-wire, repelling all opponents with ease en route to victory in the Group 3 $250,000 Magic Night Stakes (1200m).

While Pembrey lacks an existing nomination for the Golden Slipper, her Magic Night conquest secures eligibility for the $5 million showdown next Saturday upon payment of the late fee by her team.

Tony Gollan, the trainer, noted that if Pembrey bounces back strongly post-win, he plans to urge owners to fork out the $150,000 late entry sum to gain access to the premier event.

"She's done well over the last two weeks in Sydney and to us it looks as though there's enough left in the tank to go again in seven days,'' Gollan said.

"We'll let the team make the decision if they want to pay up, we have a look at her all week and see what we've got.

"But she's a nice filly who has hit form at the right time, she handles wet or dry so it won't matter what the weather throws at us during the week, and she shows good speed so ticks all the boxes.

"We came to Sydney to run in the Golden Slipper so my gut feeling is to back up. We will see how she pulls up but I would imagine we will run her."

Three late payments are forecasted before Monday's 11am deadline, with Closer To Free and Music Time among those tipped to supplement for the Golden Slipper.

The last horse to win via late entry was Crystal Lily in 2010.

Pembrey, sent out as the $2.05 favourite under champion rider James McDonald, prevailed by 1.5 lengths from Lumbini ($10), with By Choice ($4.60) 1.25 lengths back in third position.

In a post-race reflection, McDonald drew parallels between Pembrey and Chayan, his mount from the previous week's Reisling Stakes success.

"Pembrey's a beautiful filly. Last week's filly (Chayan) was great as well and she's very similar,'' McDonald said.

Chayan co-leads at $5 with Paradoxium for the Golden Slipper, as Pembrey trades at $15.

McDonald took accountability for Pembrey's prior reverse in the Sweet Embrace Stakes, thrilled to rectify it here in the Magic Night.

"Obviously, I learned a lot, it was a bad ride last start,'' McDonald said.

"I'm so happy I can make amends today and Tony (Gollan) was solid by keeping me on. I'm glad I could repay him and the connections because she's a beautiful filly.

"She began a lot cleaner today and I was alert to her this time. She lengthened well and really built through the gears."

The filly Pembrey seeks to join an elite group as the seventh to notch the Magic Night Stakes-Golden Slipper double, after Kiamichi (2019), Bint Marscay (1993), Bounding Away (1986), Dark Eclipse (1980), Century Miss (1979) and Toy Show (1975).

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