VIDEO: Sam Hyland – Golden Slipper Day
With the Flemington carnival done and dusted, attention turns to Sydney, and at Rosehill on Saturday there’s no less than five Group 1’s, headlined by the $3.5 million Golden Slipper.
The Slipper (Race 7) is an intriguing race (and a brilliant one). Blue Diamond winner WRITTEN BY (No. 1) and Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic heroine SUNLIGHT (No. 10) are undefeated this campaign and worthy of favouritism. There’s little doubt they’re the top two-year-old colt and filly in the land, however, they’re on a seven-day back up, and didn’t exactly have soft runs last week. Other leading hopes include: SANTOS (No. 2), who has the Gai Waterhouse polish; the highly talented but erratic PERFORMER (No. 5); ESTIJAAB (No. 11), who almost knocked off Sunlight in the Silver Slipper, and impressive Sweet Embrace winner SEABROOK (No. 15).
Less than an hour-and-a-half before the Slipper we see WINX (No. 4) line up in the George Ryder (RACE 5), where she’ll almost certainly notch her 24th win on the bounce. The race may well be a dress rehearsal for the Cox Plate later in the year, with gun three-year-old KEMENTARI (No. 6) set to square off with the wonder mare.
In the $700,000 Ranvet Stakes we see the first three across the line in the Australian Cup – HARLEM (No. 3), GAILO CHOP (No. 1) and VENTURA STORM (No. 5) – renew acquaintances. Bonny mare SINGLE GAZE (No. 8) was enormous in that race, finishing fifth when out in the wrong part of the track, and will make her presence felt.
A top-quality field of three-year-olds will face the starter in the $600,000 Rosehill Guineas, led by Victoria Derby hero ACE HIGH (No. 1), who has been ticking along nicely this time in. CLIFF’S EDGE (No. 4) heads north after his dominant Alister Clark Stakes win at The Valley, and will take beating, so too will VIN DE DANCE (No. 2) and D’ARGENTO (No. 8), while AGE OF FIRE (No. 3) will relish the sting out of the ground and could cause an upset.
In a typically open renewal of The Galaxy (RACE 8), mudlark JUNGLE EDGE (No. 2) looks set to be there at the business end, while IN HER TIME (No. 3), SUPIDO (No. 8), SNITTY KITTY (No. 10) and VIRIDINE (No. 13) are sure to have their share of admirers.
Best Bets:
ROSEHILL
Race 2, No. 11 – Domed
MORNINGTON
Race 6, No. 3 – I’m Wesley
