Wide draws plague Conners

By Mathew Toogood

SYDNEY, Oct 14 AAP - Wide barriers have dented the confidence of trainer Clarry Conners who has three two-year-olds entered at Randwick on Saturday.

The four-time Golden Slipper-winning trainer has At The Movies, Lord Duveen and Dear Demi in the City Tattersalls Plate (1000m) but the latter two have come up with the widest alleys.

Lord Duveen (barrier 15) and Dear Demi (16) have race experience on their side after competing in the Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes respectively, while stablemate At The Movies will be making her debut from barrier nine.

Conners produced Satin Shoes, the subsequent Widden Stakes and Silver Slipper winner, to score on debut in this race last year.

"Realistically I thought if they (Lord Duveen and Dear Demi) had drawn a barrier they would have been very hard to beat," Conners said.

"You've got to have luck in running from out there though."

Conners consulted the owners of both juveniles and while Lord Duveen was a confirmed starter, the trainer said a decision on whether Dear Demi took her place from the outside gate was still to be decided.

More Than Ready colt Lord Duveen finished fourth on debut in the Listed Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on October 1.

"He tricked Hughie (Bowman) and he got back too far on him," Conners said of Lord Duveen's debut.

"He had ridden the horse but he tricked him, he's a very relaxed horse and Hugh eased back because he was going to be caught wide and he (Lord Duveen) went back six lengths.

"He hit the line nicely but couldn't make up that ground at the finish and his run probably came to an end."

Dear Demi, a daughter of Dehere, is owned by John Singleton and also finished fourth on debut in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m).

Conners said the filly was being aimed at the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January.

"She got back a bit too far also on debut and then it ended up she couldn't get a run and had to come to the outside," Conners said. "She was flying home really fast."

At The Movies is a daughter of 2005 Golden Slipper winner Stratum and has had two barrier trials ahead of her debut.

Her latest effort was a third in a 900m heat at Rosehill on September 29.

"She hasn't got the race experience of the other two but she's ready to go around," Conners said.

"She's had the two trials. Her first trial she got knocked down at Canterbury and then I was happy with her trial at Rosehill."