A spot in the Golden Slipper will be on the line for the winner of the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill, and trainer John Sargent is optimistic that his improving filly, Autumn Blonde, can stake her claim.

By The Autumn Sun, Autumn Blonde finished a courageous third behind the future Reisling Stakes runner-up Marhoona in her debut at Canterbury. She then followed up with a fourth-place finish, just a length behind the smart filly Within The Law, in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).

Sargent was particularly impressed with her last run, where she was caught three-wide and hampered up the straight but still finished strongly. With a better draw for Saturday’s Magic Night Stakes, he believes Autumn Blonde can play a significant role in the race.

“Her last run, she was caught three-wide and got hampered up the straight, but she still hit the line very well,” Sargent said.

“She seems to have progressed since then, and hopefully, with the better draw, we can get a smoother run on Saturday.

“She has shown plenty at home. She just needed to mature mentally, and it looks like she’s doing that.”

Regan Bayliss, who partnered Autumn Blonde at Canterbury, will again be in the saddle at Rosehill, where she’s priced at $9.50 for the Magic Night Stakes.

For Autumn Blonde, a win would secure a spot in next week’s Golden Slipper, and if she qualifies, Sargent is hopeful she will be ready to back up.

“She’d go to the Slipper if she pulls up well,” Sargent said.

“Her work on Tuesday was good. Regan Bayliss rode her, and he knows her well after their last run at Canterbury. I’m expecting a strong performance from her.”

Fourteen fillies will contest the Magic Night Stakes (1200m), with impressive debut winner Strada Varenna installed as the $3.40 favourite, just ahead of Inglis Millennium placegetter Artistic Venture ($3.90).

In 2019, Kiamichi became the last two-year-old to win both the Magic Night Stakes and Golden Slipper double.

The Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) for colts and geldings will see 12 runners, with Hawkes Racing’s West Of Swindon the $2.90 favourite.