Pembrey controlled the race from the front under James McDonald, comfortably distancing her opposition to secure the Group 3 $250,000 Magic Night Stakes (1200m).
Her connections have yet to enter Pembrey for the Golden Slipper, though the Magic Night result opens the door to the $5 million feature next Saturday via late payment.
If Pembrey shows good recovery after the win, trainer Tony Gollan will counsel owners to invest the $150,000 late nomination fee for a shot at the major prize.
“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.”
Late entries totaling three are anticipated by 11am Monday, likely encompassing Closer To Free and Music Time for the Golden Slipper.
Crystal Lily marked the latest such success in 2010.
As the $2.05 favourite, Pembrey with jockey James McDonald triumphed by 1.5 lengths over Lumbini ($10), By Choice ($4.60) third another 1.25 lengths behind.
After the race, McDonald likened Pembrey favourably to Chayan, victorious aboard for him in the prior week’s Reisling Stakes.
“Pembrey’s a beautiful filly. Last week’s filly (Chayan) was great as well and she’s very similar,” McDonald said.
At $15 for the Golden Slipper, Pembrey trails co-favourites Chayan and Paradoxium on $5.
McDonald confessed fault for Pembrey’s Sweet Embrace Stakes defeat, relieved to atone in the 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.”
Aiming for the Magic Night Stakes–Golden Slipper double would make Pembrey the seventh horse, succeeding Kiamichi (2019), Bint Marscay (1993), Bounding Away (1986), Dark Eclipse (1980), Century Miss (1979) and Toy Show (1975).
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