Heath Conners' improving filly Fashion will contest the Queensland Guineas
Fashion has shown great improvement since moving from the Clarry Conners yard in March.
The filly raced in some of the bigger juvenile races for Clarry, including the BRC Sires Produce Stakes and Champagne Classic but she was unable to crack it for a win whilst stabled with Clarry.
Since moving to Heath Conners yard Fashion has raced five times for two wins and two placing’s. Her most recent win was in a three year old fillies handicap at Flemington, where she beat home Queensland Derby hopeful Heidilicious. She also managed to run third in the listed Laelia Stakes at Morphetville in early May.
Fashion’s last start was in the Daybreak Lover Handicap at Eagle Farm. Despite the fact that she never found clear running in the straight, the classy daughter of Encosta de Lago rallied late to finish just 3 ½ lengths behind eventual winner Steps in Time.
Heath Conners believes the key to getting the best out his filly is to engage a more experienced riders.
“No disrespect to anyone but the jockeys in Sydney were giving her a dig at the start and she would get her head up and do too much wrong.” Conners said.
“We tried older jockeys on her in Victoria with their only instruction to just wave the reins at her at the start and she would just take up a really nice position just off the speed, which has worked really well.”
Conners has stayed true to his plan of engaging experienced jockeys by calling on Kiwi rider Lisa Cropp to partner the horse in the Guineas.
“Horses are running really well for Lisa. She’ll know how to have her travelling up close to the speed and use her excellent acceleration.” Conners said.
A win in the Queensland Guineas would cap off a memorable week for Conners, after his third child, a baby girl, was born Tuesday night.
Fashion is currently rated a $23.00 chance in the Queensland Guineas, which will be the last of the day at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
