GOLDEN SLIPPER PREVIEW
Group 1 - 2YO - 1200m
Golden Slipper day is finally here punters and the richest race in the world for two-year-olds headlines what promises to be an absolute cracking day of racing this Saturday at Rosehill Gardens. A total of five Group 1's on the card complemented by a host of black type racing, it doesn't get much better! The Slipper itself is shaping up to be an absolute classic, with the threat of a rain affected track adding further intrigue to one of the most hotly contested Slippers in years. Having dissected the form, here's my take on this year's Group 1 Golden Slipper.
The draw was less than ideal but I'm sticking fat with the Chris Waller trained Performer ($10). The Breeders Plate winner from the spring had long sat atop futures markets for the Slipper before he sensationally tossed Hugh Bowman in the concluding stages of the Todman. Obviously hard to say whether or not he would have won without the antics but in my opinion he was warming up to be right in the finish. Subsequently ordered to trial and worked brilliantly in a heat at Randwick on heavy ground. The blinkers went on there for the first time and although he wasn't up against anything in the trial, the way he travelled was just super. Glided through the turf, so not at all deterred by any give in the ground (he's already 1/1 on soft going) and love that the blinkers stay on on Saturday as they looked to really sharpen him up. Will come into barrier 12 with no scratchings so hoping Hughie can find some cover, possibly three wide, and with a genuine speed on up front, this horse has the ability to rattle off some outstanding sectionals so no doubt he'll be charging at the line. Think he's the best horse in the race and at $10 I'm very keen to find out.
No knock on the unbeaten Written By ($5.00) who'll look to join an illustrious group of two-year-olds on Saturday should he win by completing the Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper double. He's just a beauty this horse for Neville Begg. Overcame the wide alley to absolutely brain them in the Diamond, then showed he could do it the Sydney way of going last week in the Pago Pago where he ran half a second (three lengths) faster overall time to Sunlight on the same day. Possesses all the traits you want in a racehorse, can take up a position, absorb pressure, but still conserves enough energy to finish his races off and is ultra tough. Won on a heavy 8 on debut so he ticks that box and maps to get a gun run from the kind barrier, possibly in the one one giving Jordan Childs every opportunity. Slight query that he's been asked to do it on the seven day back-up but if he can reproduce or better his performance from last week, theres no doubting he's in the finish. Think he deserves to be favourite and tipping he will be come race time.
Very wary of the other unbeaten horse in the race in Aylmerton ($17) and think he's a great each-way play on Saturday. Out of the French stallion Siyouni, this horse trialled stylishly before going to Canterbury on debut and won with authority on a soft track. Then went to the Todman where he got a beautiful run along the rails saving ground to nail fellow Slipper starter Ef Troop right on the wire. Track played fast that day but he still ran very quick time, comparable to that of Sugar Bella (who is flying) later in the day and quicker than the figures posted by Estijaab in the Resiling. Maps perfectly to sit midfield, just in behind the speed, and gets the services of Tommy Berry who knows a thing or two about winning Golden Slippers. Looks the horse with scope in the race and can't see any reason why he won't run well. Looks a big price.
While I think it's a colts year I think that the filly Oohood ($19) has got a great chance of steaming into the money late. Although still a maiden, this girl is never far off the mark and produced a super run last start in the Blue Diamond when running third to Written By. Was forced deep around the turn but still had the audacity to pick herself up and power through the line, posting the quickest last 200m split of the race (12.19). Blinkers go on for the first time on Saturday after trialling well in them recently at Randwick (on heavy) and the best in the business Zac Purton goes aboard. If we get a frantic slog of a Slipper, while horses are fading in the straight this girl will be the one picking them off as theres no doubt she'll be hitting the line hard. Another that represents great each-way value for mine.
GOLDEN SLIPPER TIPS
1. Performer ($10)
2. Written By ($5.00)
3. Aylmerton ($17)
4. Oohood ($19)
For the latest Golden Slipper Betting Odds, click here.
