Thursday, 25 February 2010:
Fairytale filly Chance Bye will be out to prove she is a genuine Golden Slipper contender when she faces her toughest test at Rosehill on Saturday.
The speedy youngster is unbeaten in two starts but both her wins have been in races restricted to two-year-olds bought through the Inglis sales.
On Saturday she will go head-to-head with the likes of Magic Millions placegetter Ambers Waltz, Breeders Plate winner Run For Wilson and two-time city winner Intertidal in what is shaping as an intriguing Silver Slipper (1100m).
Also in the mix is Widden Stakes winner Georgette Silk from the stable of Clarry Conners.
A renowned trainer of juveniles, Conners has won the Golden Slipper four times with Tierce (1991), Burst (1992), Prowl (1998) and Belle Du Jour (2000).
He rates Georgette Silk as highly as that quartet but is wary of the Michael Tubman-trained Chance Bye on Saturday.
While some people have questioned the calibre of horses Chance Bye has beaten, Conners has no doubt the $15,000 bargain buy is the real deal.
"Oh yes. Her record is there and she makes the speed and keeps going," Conners said.
"She's been very impressive."
Chance Bye has drawn barrier eight with Georgette Silk to jump from the outside alley in the 11-horse field.
Blake Shinn has retained the mount on Georgette Silk although Conners is unsure whether he will be able to stick with her for the duration of the autumn due to his commitment to
Gai Waterhouse as her stable rider.
"That's the only thing with Blake and Nash (Rawiller), because they are obliged to ride for Gai," Conners said.
"I'll just take it race by race and if something happens, well there are a lot of good jockeys around."
The Silver Slipper is set to provide a key guide to the Golden Slipper prospects of several youngsters with six of the runners - Chance Bye ($11), Run For Wilson ($17), Georgette Silk ($21), Intertidal ($26), Ambers Waltz ($26) and Divorces ($26) - among the top 20 juveniles in betting for the $3.5 million showpiece.
With less than six weeks until the Easter Saturday race, the Silver Slipper winner will also receive a crucial prizemoney boost and exemption from any Golden Slipper ballot.
Chance Bye is chief among those who need to win to move up the order of entry as despite banking more than $340,000, her prizemoney does not count towards the Golden Slipper because it was won in restricted races.
