Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners is banking on good speed in the Group Two Challenge Stakes at Randwick on Saturday so that bonny mare Dorf Command can hopefully finish over the top of her rivals.Conners originally considered backing up Dorf Command in Saturday's Listed Wenona Girl Handicap (1200m) after her breathtaking win at Warwick Farm last weekend.However, with only light nominations for the weight-for-age Challenge Stakes (1000m) the in-form trainer decided to instead aim for the Group
Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners is banking on good speed in the Group Two Challenge Stakes at Randwick on Saturday so that bonny mare Dorf Command can hopefully finish over the top of her rivals.
Conners originally considered backing up Dorf Command in Saturday's Listed Wenona Girl Handicap (1200m) after her breathtaking win at Warwick Farm last weekend.
However, with only light nominations for the weight-for-age Challenge Stakes (1000m) the in-form trainer decided to instead aim for the Group Two race.
"It's a small field and I thought there would be plenty of speed on which she wants," Conners said.
"And we want to try and get some more black type for her to increase her value as a broodmare."
Dorf Command dropped back in grade last Saturday at Warwick Farm but showed her class in an 1100m Benchmark 95 by storming down the outside to win.
The four-year-old reeled off some impressive final sectionals including a final 200m in 11.36 seconds.
That was only bettered on the day by Group One winners Neroli (11.23s), Triple Honour (11.28s) and Danleigh (11.35s), and dual stakeswinner Bernicia (11.33s).
"It was a sensational win last week," Conners said.
"When they run along in front like they did last week she just sits back and can really ping. I got pretty excited watching her win last week, actually."
Conners has also shown faith in Sydney's leading apprentice Tommy Berry by keeping him on the mare in the Group Two event.
Berry will ride all three of Conners' runners at Randwick on Saturday, with the trainer saddling up La Belle Chataigne in the Aspiration Quality and Glowlamp in the Wenona Girl.
"He knows the mare backwards and rides her confidently so why change?," Conners said.
"He knows what he's got to do."
The Challenge Stakes has a field of eight with the Chris Waller-trained three-year-old Stryker the favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of the Gai Waterhouse-trained Swift Alliance.
The Joe Pride-trained mare De Lightning Ridge had been a dual acceptor in the Challenge Stakes and also the Wenona Girl but the four-year-old was scratched from the Wenona Girl on Friday paving the way for her to line up in the weight-for-age contest.