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By Ray Hickson

It seems the only way Hayasugi knows is the hard way and that gives trainer Clinton McDonald hope that the filly can overcome a wide barrier in Saturday’s $5 million TAB Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.

The Blue Diamond winner will be out to emulate McDonald’s father Ross’s filly Courtza who claimed the juvenile double back in 1999 but drawing one from the outside has made the job tougher – though six of the last 10 winners have jumped from double figure gates.

McDonald said he’s been a little bullish about the Golden Slipper since her win at Caulfield last month and isn’t backing away from the challenge.

“I thought she’d definitely run top three and I thought she’d win if she drew a marble,’’ he said.

“But anyway she likes a challenge, she’s won her last three being wide.

“We’ve always had this planned to be fourth run in, be rock hard fit and ready to go and we can’t fault her.

“She’s as good a horse as we’ve had come through our yard. She does things only the real good ones do and hopefully we can show it on Saturday.”

Hayasugi achieved a rare feat when she won the Blue Diamond as she became only the second filly to sweep that series matching Midnight Fever in 1987 by winning the Preview, Prelude and Diamond.

Despite those wins in the lead up, she was sent out a $16 chance in the Blue Diamond.

HAYASUGI WINS THE 2024 BLUE DIAMOND STAKES! 💎

IT'S THE MCDONALD CLAN AGAIN!@cmcdonaldracing @jamieleekah07 pic.twitter.com/MjOflaqBro

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 24, 2024

McDonald said he’d love to see what she can do if she ever is afforded a ‘soft’ run but what he does like heading into the Golden Slipper is the fact she’s shown how tough she is.

“If you watch all her races she’s never had an easy run, she’s had to get out and make her own luck,’’ he said.

“She’s had to get on her bike at the 600m and go around them. When she won the Prelude she got into a bumping duel and got shot off on the turn and had to balance up and find the line.

“She’s never had a cosy run where she can balance up and show the turn of foot she’s shown at home, she’s had to get out and sustain a long run.

“That’s an asset for a Golden Slipper, we know it’s a tough 1200m and a high pressure race which she’s shown she enjoys and can handle.

“She’s won in a big field, so she’s ticked a lot of boxes and the only other one we’ve got to tick is Saturday.”

Jamie Kah continues her association with Hayasugi, $17 with TAB on Tuesday, as she aims to be the first female jockey to win the Golden Slipper and McDonald said it’ll be up to Kah to plot the right path.

He said he’s been rapt to see Kah return from a well publicised break and prove she’s riding in Group 1 form and believes she has the sort of confidence you need in a Slipper.

“You probably want to cut the corner and then be getting out to where you want to get,’’ he said.

“The best part is we have all day to watch all the races at Rosehill and see how the track’s racing and come up with a game pan.

“Jamie’s riding full of confidence and back to her best, and it’s great for the sport.

“We’ve worked the horse Sydney way and she goes just as well, we feel, so that won’t be a concern at all.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens