FORMER South African jockey Glyn Schofield will ride Elimbari on Saturday when the star Newcastle filly attempts to prove she is ready for the Golden Slipper.
Elimbari will take on one of the best two-year-old fields assembled this year when she runs in the $125,000 group 3 Kindergarten Stakes over 1100 metres at Warwick Farm.
Elimbari will face brilliant performers Solar Charged and Georgette Silk in a race that could decide whether the Newcastle performer is a worthy challenger for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill on April 3.
Hugh Bowman, who rode Elimbari to a convincing first-up win, has committed to Solar Charged.
Elimbari was posted as early favourite for the Golden Slipper after she sat three wide all the way but still beat Celts over 1100m at Rosehill on January 16.
As other stars like Beneteau have emerged, Elimbari has eased. She was on the sixth line of Golden Slipper betting with TAB Sportsbet yesterday at $15.
Nash Rawiller was the preferred option as the new rider but is committed to the Gai Waterhouse stable for Saturday's race.
"Glyn Schofield won for me on Friday and I am sure he has the experience needed in a strong race like this to get the job done," Elimbari's trainer, Kris Lees, said.
"Really, this is the race that will decide what happens with Elimbari.
"It is a hot race, with fillies like Solar Charged and Georgette Silk running.
"Maybe Solar Charged looks too slick for our filly around Warwick Farm over just 1100m.
"However, we are definitely starting, as this will tell us if she is worthy of going on for the Golden Slipper."
Elimbari won $42,000 on debut but probably needs at least a second-place cheque in lead-up races to have enough prizemoney to make the 16-horse field for the Golden Slipper.
If Elimbari lives up to expectations on Saturday, she will go to the Riesling Slipper Trial over 1200m at Rosehill a fortnight later before running in the Golden Slipper.
Lees said Elimbari impressed with a "nice hit-out" at her home track on Saturday morning.
"That has topped her off perfectly for Saturday," Lees said. "She is now pretty forward so I won't do much with her until the race on Saturday.
"I want to keep something in the tank for her Slipper preparation."
Lees said his filly WAS one of the better ones in a vintage year for the girls.
"The first four or five in the Silver Slipper were fillies," Lees said.
"The winner, Chance Bye, is a flyer and then there are these two we meet on Saturday, Solar Charged and Georgette Silk. Both those fillies have shown they are right up to Slipper class."
Trainer Clarry Conners showed his confidence in last-start winner Georgette Silk by scratching her from Saturday's group 2 Silver Slipper and saving her for the Kindergarten Stakes.
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