Horse Racing

Clarry Conners’ talented Foreplay gelding Decision Time will get their chance to set up a possible clash with superstar sprinter Black Caviar in the Melbourne Cup Carnival’s 2011 Patianck Farm Classic by extending their unbeaten streak to five in the $200,000 Group 2 The Shorts (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

2011 The Shorts favourite Decision Time could take on Black Caviar in the Patinack Farm Classic this November

Four-year-old Decision Time is one of 11 horses in the 2011 The Shorts field this year and they have come up trumps with the ideal barrier two draw for the showdown.

Due to be ridden by Corey Brown, Decision Time is out to extend their record to nine wins from 14 starts, the horse having won every one of their race starts in the past 12 months.

The purple patch started on George Main Stakes Day last year, Decision Time winning the Listed Heritage Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.

They are undefeated since and most recently resumed for the season with an excellent first-up win in the Group 3 Concord Stakes (1100m) at Warwick Farm on September 3.

Conners said if they continue to step up that he would seriously look at the $1 million Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m), nominations for which close next Tuesday, at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day, where Black Caviar would be on the menu.

“He might stay in Sydney after this week’s race and go to the ($20,000 Group 2) Premier Stakes (over 1200 metres at Randwick on October 1) or he could head to Melbourne and run in the ($250,000 Group 2) Gilgai Stakes at Flemington (over 1200 metres on October 2),” Conners said in regards to a spring plan.

“But his main aim is the Patinack Farm Classic.”

Decision Time is sure to open The Shorts 2011 betting favourite at Luxbet based on their commanding recent record, nice barrier and their drop back in weight from the 58kg they carried to victory last start to 56.5kg on Saturday.

“He’s come through that first-up run really nicely, I’m very happy with him,” Conners said.

“It’s a similar race on Saturday but I think the conditions suit him a bit better.

“It was a Quality the other day and he carried 58 kilos, but he drops to 56.5 with the set weights and penalties.”

Notable rivals that will be there to challenge Decision Time in The Shorts field on Saturday include:

• The Chris Waller-trained duo of Danleigh and Albert The Fat, Albert having their first start for Waller

• The Hawkes-trained multiple elite level runner-up Love Conquers All who has suffered a blow drawing the far outside gate of 11 as they resume for the first time since failing in the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June

• Peter Snowden’s capable duo of Commands gelding Soul who ran fourth in the Concorde Stakes last-start and Lonhro six-year-old Skytrain coming off a Listed win at Warwick Farm from last month

• The David Payne-trained Winter King, runner-up to Decision Time in the Concorde Stakes before which they were a close second behind Skytrain in the Show County Quality; has drawn well in gate three presenting a real danger

See below for the complete 2011 The Yellowglen Shorts field, barriers, jockeys and weights and stay tuned to Races.com.au over the next few days for all the George Main Stakes Day race and betting updates.

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2011 The Shorts Final Field & Barrier Draw