The death of stable favourite Inspire on Thursday was felt heavily by Clarry Conners but Mehter and Nips can ease the pain when they sport silks in different states on Saturday.

Mehter will head to Rosehill where she tackles the Four Seasons Nursery Hcp (1400m) while Nips, who has not raced since March, will resume in the TCL Kensington Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.

While Conners is upbeat about both horses chances, he is still getting over the shock loss of eight-year-old stalwart Inspire, who broke down at his 76th start at Randwick on Thursday and had to be destroyed despite all efforts to save him.

"We sent him to the vets for X-rays but they said there was nothing they could do for him and he was in a lot of pain," Conners said.

"We will miss him a lot, he was part of the family."

Three-year-old Mehter will be Conners' sole flagbearer at Rosehill and despite an inglorious first-up last to Dearness, the four-time Golden Slipper-winning trainer rates her a knockout chance.

"I'm happy with the horse and you can forget she went around last start," Conners said.

"The saddle moved forward. She can pull a bit and she just went too hard in front and dropped off.

"But she put in some nice runs last time in better races and she's a nice filly."

Mehter's only win was over 1400m and she has a favourable draw in gate four.

The Mortgage Professionals Hcp (1100m) for two-year-olds is also shaping as an intriguing race with $1.8 million colt Dubai's Choice set to make his debut against the likes of Absolutelyfabulous from the Kris Lees' stable and the Gai Waterhouse-trained Fleur Royale.

The latter has run into a couple of smart youngsters at her two starts to date, finishing second to the Conners-trained Mirror Mirror in the Gimcrack Stakes and Churchill Downs last start.

"The form around her hasn't been bad, Mirror Mirror won the Magic Millions and the other horse finished second in the Millions," Waterhouse said.

"I couldn't be happier with her."

At Flemington, Nips will be out to add to his fresh record of two wins from five starts after Conners decided against keeping him in Sydney for Thursday night's Canterbury Classic.

Photo: Sportpix

© AAP 2010 Published 27/01/06