Under James McDonald’s ride, Pembrey commanded the front throughout and fended off competitors without effort to take out the Group 3 $250,000 Magic Night Stakes (1200m).
Absence from the Golden Slipper entries does not bar Pembrey, as her Magic Night result provides a guaranteed entry to the $5 million spectacle next Saturday contingent on the late nomination payment.
Trainer Tony Gollan mentioned that barring any issues in recovery from the victory, he would push for owners to pay the $150,000 late fee ensuring participation in the headline race.
“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.”
Observers predict three late supplements by Monday 11am, featuring probable inclusions of Closer To Free and Music Time in the Golden Slipper.
In 2010, Crystal Lily became the most recent late nominee to seize the prize.
James McDonald steered the $2.05 pick Pembrey to a decisive 1.5 length win ahead of Lumbini ($10), By Choice ($4.60) a further 1.25 lengths adrift in third.
McDonald shared a perceptive comparison post-race between Pembrey and his Reisling Stakes winner from last week, Chayan.
“Pembrey’s a beautiful filly. Last week’s filly (Chayan) was great as well and she’s very similar,” McDonald said.
Pembrey sits at $15 in Golden Slipper markets where Chayan matches Paradoxium at $5 favouritism.
Acknowledging his error in Pembrey’s Sweet Embrace Stakes setback, McDonald was overjoyed to deliver compensation in today’s Magic Night Stakes.
“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.”
Pembrey eyes history as the seventh to land the Magic Night Stakes–Golden Slipper combination, trailing Kiamichi (2019), Bint Marscay (1993), Bounding Away (1986), Dark Eclipse (1980), Century Miss (1979) and Toy Show (1975).
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