(Andrew Bensley is a leading commentator with Sky Racing and Sky Sports Radio.) 

One of my favourite two-year-olds, Karuta Queen takes another step towards the AAMI Golden Slipper this weekend.

Karuta Queen will take part in a trial before the first race at Canberra on Sunday and, according to trainer Neville Layt, the trial will decide where the Magic Millions winner will resume before the Slipper.

Layt can't believe how well she has done saying every time they've raised the bar, she hasn't baulked at anything. The options for Layt and Karuta Queen are to tackle the local Black Opal Stakes or go to town and contest the Sweet Embrace Stakes.

At the Black Opal Stakes launch at Canberra on Wednesday, club officials were attempting to lure the Karuta Queen team to their feature race but we'll have to wait and see.

As for Layt, he's recovering from a foot injury where he has to use crutches for the next six weeks. He is hoping he'll be throwing his crutches in the air on Golden Slipper day.

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NOW to Saturday's Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

Everything has basically been said about the favourite, Sepoy, but there's a couple of roughies worthy of a mention for quinella and trifecta betting.

Clinton McDonald will saddle up Envious in the Group One and while the trainer knows the task is a tough one, McDonald feels he has a Group One horse in the making. After finishing fourth to Sepoy on Australia Day, McDonald took the gamble not to run Envious again before this Saturday and there's no doubt the youngster has a great deal of freshness for the 1200-metre test. It's also interesting to note that Glen Boss has been sitting patiently waiting for the Envious ride.

Another horse that will appreciate getting to 1200 metres and beyond is Delago's Lad. Trainer John McArdle was rapt with the way the horse finished off in the Inglis race at Mornington last Wednesday when there was a clear bias against backmarkers. McArdle knows he needs a fast pace to allow Delago's Lad a chance of causing a boilover but the horse's work this week showed he's ready to once again threaten Sepoy for the major spoils.

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AT Morphettville on Saturday, the listed Redelva Stakes should be a cracker.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh has sent Shrapnel over from Melbourne, deciding this race was the better option than the Oakleigh Plate. One of the main threats in the race is Gary Kennewell-trained Conservatorium. The horse tackled the Caulfield Guineas Prelude in the Spring but came away with no result.

Kennewell told me this week Conservatorium will return on Saturday a different looking horse, saying he now stands at 17 hands. A recent trial effort has Kennewell confident his horse will be thundering hard late.

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TRAINER Gary Portelli reports in-form three-year-old, Somepin Anypin can't be faulted going into the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill. Portelli admits this is the horse's biggest test but Somepin Anypin is such a relaxed type, he seemingly copes with anything. In a race that lacks pace, apprentice Josh Adams is expected to roll forward from barrier 12 and sit right on the pace.

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AND finally trainer Brett Cavanough hasn't given up on the hope of having a Golden Slipper runner on April 2. Bossdon City failed to handle the Melbourne way but his trackwork since going the Sydney direction has been perfect. Jockey Brenton Avdulla has been given the job of getting Bossdon City into a winning position in the straight.