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Exposed Samaready has a 'big motor'

Trainer Mick Price raised concerns Samaready would become a bigger target in tomorrow's A$3.5 million (HK$27.8 million) Group One Golden Slipper (1,200m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Samaready retained favouritism after drawing 11, while Gai Waterhouse's five chances fared favourably after all drew inside Price's horse, including Pierro who secured the coveted gate one.

'I am worried about jockeys coming back and saying she did not have every chance because she got knocked down. And she's a $2.50 chance,' Price said. 'A lot of jockeys know where $2.50 chances sit in runs, don't they. So we just ask for a traffic-free run as does everyone who backs her. Nine times out of 10 you get that but she just needs a clear crack at them.'

Price, however, says his boom filly, unbeaten in four starts including the number two ranked juvenile race in Australia - the Blue Diamond Stakes - has a 'big motor' and has done well since her win in the Riesling Stakes, at her first run right-handed, 11 days ago. 'There's a big V8 Motor in that little filly,' he said.

He later joked his fellow trainers at his Caulfield base in Melbourne had said to him that all he had to do was 'keep the filly breathing' in order to win the Slipper.

'It won't be that simple,' he said. 'The opposition is gaining strength all the time but her record is faultless, she's pleasing me and her jockey [Craig Newitt] thinks she might be even be better going to the reverse way [right-handed].'

Samaready is striving to join Bounding Away (1986) and Courtza (1989) as the only fillies to complete the Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper double.

Among her rivals will be Queensland filly Doubtfilly. whose connections have taken a huge gamble by paying the A$150,000 late entry fee to secure a start and that's about eight times more than the price they paid for her as a yearling.

Fans will also look forward to the appearance of More Joyous in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes as she seeks her 17th win at just her 24th start. The More Than Ready five-year-old resumed after a five month spell to win the Group Two Canterbury Stakes over 1,300m at Rosehill 11 days ago.

More Joyous won the Queen Of The Turf last year after also having won the Canterbury Stakes. She has won 13 of her 15 starts in Sydney.

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