Dear Demi will back up in next week’s Group One Champagne Stakes after an impressive victory in today’s listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.

Ridden confidently by James McDonald, Dear Demi atoned for a last start narrow second placing in the Baillieu Handicap to break through for a valuable stakes success.

“She is a pretty good filly,” Conners said. “We have had no real luck with her and a few things have gone wrong without being serious.”

“But I think she is a lovely staying filly.”

“I said to Singo last week that she was going to be hard to beat in this race and I cannot wat until next year when she is going to be a lovely filly over 2000 and further.”

In the immediate future Dear Demi will have another run in Sydney and at racing’s elite level before going for a break.

The win was the first of three quick Doncaster Day winners for gun kiwi jockey James McDonald.

“She definitely got headed and full credit to the filly, she fought really hard and she has come away really well with a deserved win,” McDonald said.

“I had not really gone for her until the last furlong as having a ride on her last start I learnt a lot and she really found late and the extra furlong today was really going to help.”

A $130,000 graduate of last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Dear Demi is now the winner of two races and two placed from just seven outings.

She has now earned over $174,000 and importantly is a valuable breeding prospect – already being a juvenile stakes winner.

Dear Demi is the first named foal for her unraced but well bred Zabeel mare Shirley.

Being a daughter of the Golden Slipper winner and champion juvenile Merlene, Shirley is a half sister to the outstanding South African group winner Merlene de Lago.

Dear Demi’s third dam Bold Promise won a Magic Millions 2YO Classic and as well as throwing Merlene another of her daughters Miss Pennymoney was a multiple Group One winner.

A half brother to Dear Demi by champion sire Encosta de Lago looks set to go under the hammer at June’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.

As well as being a half brother to today’s Fernhill winner, the yearling in question is a three quarter relation to the aforementioned group winner Merlene de Lago.

Winner: Dear Demi
Breeding: Dehere-Shirley (Zabeel)
Race: ATC Fernhill Handicap LR (1600m)
Sold for: $130,000
Sale: 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Strawberry Hill Stud
Buyer: Clarry Conners
Earnings: $174,450
Owner(s): Strawberry Hill Stud Syndicate (Mgr: JD Singleton)
Trainer: Clarry Conners (Warwick Farm)