As things stand, trainer Clarry Conners says he’ll need to pull a rabbit out of the hat if he’s to add a fifth Golden Slipper to his mantlepiece this year.

Dear Demi, a two-year-old Conners hopes can get to the $3.5 million event at Rosehill in April, will step out in Saturday’s The Juniors Handicap over a more suitable journey than her first three starts.

The Dehere filly lines up over 1200 metres for the first time having previously found both 1000m and 1100m too short.

“I picked this race out for her because it is 1200 and she has trialled nicely leading into it,” Conners said.

“Every start she has had she has got back and got home really strongly so the 1200 should suit her. She’s only first-up but I’m pretty happy with her.”

Conners has won the Golden Slipper with Tierce (1991), Burst (1992), Prowl (1998) and Belle Du Jour (2000).

Dear Demi is currently at $51 with TAB Sportsbet in its early Golden Slipper market.

“I’ve got to try to pull a rabbit out of my hat this year,” Conners said.

“Hopefully she is one of them and hopefully there’s two or three rabbits still in the hat.

“We will try to go to the Slipper with her. We’ve done the first acceptance and we’ll just keep seeing how she runs leading up to it.”

In her most recent outing over 1000m at Warwick Farm in early January, Dear Demi was checked just after the start before finishing off strongly late for fourth, six lengths behind Golden Slipper favourite Raceway.

Dear Demi was first emergency for the $2 million Magic Millions (1200m) a week later but failed to gain a start.

“She had the trip up there (to the Gold Coast) which didn’t hurt her and then she had a couple of weeks off at Strawberry Hill (Stud) on the way back before coming back to my stables,” Conners said.

A $5.50 chance on TAB Sportsbet, Dear Demi pleased Conners in an exhibition gallop at Warwick Farm last weekend alongside stablemate Satin Shoes who runs in Saturday’s Group One Oakleigh Plate.