Golden Slipper Day form, odds and free tips, Saturday March 18
GOLDEN Slipper Day is always a punters delight, but this year is special. This year we not only get to see our best juveniles in action, but we’re also privileged to witness Australia’s highest-rated thoroughbreds.
What could make Golden Slipper Day any better? Try the George Ryder Stakes where champion mare Winx looks to extend its winning streak. It comes up against the likes of Le Romain and Chautauqua, but punters and racing fans are expecting another effortless victory.
The Golden Slipper is the highlight of the day, however, as an exciting field of two-year-olds line up for the $3.5 million prize. The track conditions and barrier draw have played havoc for bookmakers, but there’s value across the board which will keep punters happy.
We recommend signing up with Ladbrokes.com.au which is offering enhanced odds for every runner in Saturday’s Golden Slipper at Rosehill.
Race 1 – Irresistible Pools Manion Cup (2400m)
Big Duke continues to race well since arriving in Australia and it’s an adaptable type. The Darren Weir-trained gelding is coming off a win in the Launceston Cup and the drop in weight to 54kg with Craig Williams in the saddle can only be seen as a positive. This is harder, but the $3.40 is a respectable price.
The current favourite is Our Century which did the job well last start. The Robert Hickmott-trained gelding is another European import which finished third behind Frances Of Assisi in the Bendigo Cup. That has been a good form guide this season and it will have no problems getting this distance. $3.20 with bookmakers and punters should watch for any betting moves.
Allergic is also attracting support, but it would need to improve to take our money. The five-year-old has been around the mark in four starts this campaign with threatening, but this is its best distance and it made late ground last start. It hasn’t won for awhile and it’s giving some nice types weight. Each way hope.
Race 1 tip: Big Duke to win ($3.40) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – Tab Birthday Card Stakes (1200m)
Samantha has been a revelation this campaign having won three of its four starts. The Gerald Ryan-trained filly scored a maiden win to kick off proceedings and it comes into this having won the Fireball Stakes on a heavy track. The conditions are going to suit again and the drop to 53kg makes a big difference. It has been respected at $4.60.
Kris Lees lines up Zestful which was too far away in the Wenona Girl last start. The five-year-old has been well-backed at every run this time in and punters are getting a value price of $8 for this. The 58kg isn’t ideal, but we wouldn’t rule it out.
Raiment is the drifting favourite at $3.60 after a strong win at Randwick last start. The O’Shea-trained filly has been around the mark its entire eight-start career and with wins over the likes of Foxplay and Redouble under its belt, it should be highly respected here.
Race 2 tip: Raiment to win ($3.60) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 3 – Quickway Constructions Darby Munro Stakes (1200m)
Improvement couldn’t make it five consecutive wins in the Typhoon Tracy at Moonee Valley, but it’s much better suited racing right handed. The Gary Portelli-trained filly didn’t enjoy the tight-turning track, but it likes the sting out of the surface and it could make quick improvement here at odds of $6.50 after opening at $9.
Tactical Advantage has been the best-backed runner of the field. The James Cummings-trained gelding was $2.80 after the scratchings came out and now it’s into $2.40. It has won all four starts this campaign, including a dominant 2.8-length win at Rosehill last start. It has drawn ideally for the conditions and it has been primed for this with a trial win.
Derryn has been relatively disappointing in two starts this preparation, but don’t discount its chances. The Lindsay Park-trained colt has form around some nice horses, despite winning only one from eight starts, but it should be included on an each way basis.
Race 3 tip: Tactical Advantage to win (+140) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 4 – Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m)
The United States made good ground behind Humidor last week in the Australian Cup and it looms as a major winning hope. The seven-year-old import won its only start on this track which is a big positive and it just needs everything to go its way to win. The smaller field will certainly help and it has been well-backed into $5.
Hartnell is the boom horse of the field and it finally avoids running against Winx. It’s currently paying $1.90 to win which could be seen as a value price, but punters will need to put the Chipping Norton Stakes effort to the back of their minds. That was extremely disappointing from the quality type, but it has the class edge over this field and it should towel them up.
There were no excuses for Antonio Giuseppe when suffering defeat last start, but running second up might have been its undoing. The Waller-trained former New Zealand runner loves the rain-affected tracks so that won’t be a concern and although it’s horribly weighted on the scale, it could sneak into the minor money.
Race 4 tip: Hartnell to win ($1.90) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 5 – China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m)
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Many people are saying this will be Winx’s hardest test in some time, but we completely disagree with those thoughts. There is no Hartnell in this field and whilst it wasn’t able to beat Winx, it provided some quality in these races. The main opposition for Winx is Chautauqua, which was beaten in the Canterbury Stakes last start and hasn’t won since May last year. That’s not saying much for this field and Winx will get the job done with ease at odds of $1.16.
Credit to the connections for taking on Winx and trying Chautauqua over the longer distances. The former sprinting champion has lost its ability to quicken up over the shorter distances, but it only narrowly suffered defeat to Le Romain last start and the extra distance might help. Drawing the inside barrier isn’t ideal and place chances seem best.
Le Romain must be considered as a place chance after winning two group ones at its last three starts. The Lees-trained gelding held off Chautauqua last start and it has come back from a spell in great form after winning the Cantala Stakes last preparation. This is another level so consider only as a place chance.
Race 5 tip: Winx to win (-625) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 6 – Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m)
Prized Icon ran in the Australian Guineas last start to avoid the wet track, but there’s no avoiding it this week. The Cummings-trained colt finished second behind Hey Doc last start which is good form and it brings a fair amount of class into this race. It will need to handle the conditions to run its best, but the $6 is a solid price from bookmakers.
Inference couldn’t have been more impressive in the Randwick Guineas last start and conditions won’t be too dissimilar here. The Hawkes-trained son of So You Think sat near the rear of the field before producing a big finish down the outside. Berry might need to find a way off the inside, but that shouldn’t be a problem over this distance. It opened at $3.60 and has dropped to $3.40.
Gingernuts is a quality gelding from New Zealand which won the New Zealand Derby last start. The Te Akau-raced three-year-old put away a good field with ease and the Kiwi runners have a great record in Australian age-group racing. This could be a step too far, but it should be considered at $6.
Race 6 tip: Inference to win ($3.40) at Palmerbet.com.au
Race 7 – Longines Golden Slipper (1200m)
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She Will Reign had plenty of momentum heading into the Golden Slipper, but that was dashed last time out. The Portelli-trained filly was beaten easily by Frolic in the Reisling and it will need to improve many lengths on that performance. Its form prior was stellar with wins in the Inglis Nursery and the Silver Slipper, so punters should look to that as the best betting guide. $6 with bookmakers.
Catchy has been the best-backed runner and has shortened to $5 after opening at $8. The Lindsay Park-trained filly is unbeaten from four starts and it won the Blue Diamond Stakes with style last start. That form has already stacked up in Sydney this season, but there are some unknowns. It races right-handed for the first time and this will also be its first start on a rain-affected track. How it handles that is anyone’s guess, but we wouldn’t be discounting it.
Houtzen is also unbeaten from four starts and it carried a huge weight of 63kg to victory last start. It has yet to face the real tough opposition, but it’s hard to overlook its four wins to date. The Toby Edmonds-trained two-year-old has handled the wet conditions in the past which is ideal, but it needs to overcome the history books to win from barrier 16. It has great barrier speed which helps, but they’re not going to let it cross easily and that could pose some problems.
Race 7 tip: She Will Reign to win (+500) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 8 – Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs Galaxy (1100m)
The three-year-olds have a great record in The Galaxy and Russian Revolution fits the bill. The Snowden-trained colt has prepared for this with two trial wins and it looked the goods last campaign when taking out the Vain Stakes and the Roman Consul. The wide draw isn’t ideal, but the 50.5kg makes it a dangerous proposition at $5.
The Galaxy also likes to throw up long-shot winners and Supido looks a good candidate. The Michael Kent-trained five-year-old ran on strongly behind English in the Challenge Stakes and although it has never won a race third-up in its preparation, it’s a more mature horse now and it should appreciate the runs under its belt. Williams rides and the $9.50 has firmed in from $13.
Glenall faces its biggest test to date, but it has no weight on its back and should be an outside chance. The Les Bridge-trained colt finished second in the Fireball Stakes last start and faces much harder opposition here, but the 50kg is ideal and it should get a good run in transit. The $16 odds could be worth taking as a saver bet.
Race 8 tip: Supido to win ($13) at Bet365.com
Race 9 – Bradford Black Epona Stakes (1900m)
Vandancer was well-supported last start in the Aspiration and it ran with merit. The Michael Moroney-trained mare is rarely far away from the mark and it has form on rain-affected tracks. The rise back up in distance won’t worry it so consider the $4.40 on offer.
Elle Lou relishes the wet tracks and we couldn’t believe the price it paid to win last start. The Waller-trained mare paid $6 to win, which was incredible value considering its wet track record. It’s slightly under those odds at $5.50 here, but it won’t be easy from the inside draw. Chance if it drops back and flashed home late.
Alegria was doing its best work late behind Elle Lou last start and it’s long overdue a win. The O’Shea-trained mare has a good record at Rosehill and it has the ability to see out the longer distances. It doesn’t win out of turn, so consider on an each way basis.
Race 8 tip: Elle Lou to win ($5.50) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 10 – Provincial Championships Qualifier (1200m)
Pomelo has done the job well at its last two starts and it looms as a major winning chance. The Gwenda Markwell-trained mare has scored its last two wins by a combined margin of nine lengths and the wet conditions won’t dent its confidence.
Machinegun Jubs is a classy runner for Angela Davies which scored a classy win last start. The four-year-old has been taking on much harder opposition than this with close-up efforts behind Morton’s Fork and Sangiovese. It’s weighted well and the $4 looks a good bet.
Twist Tops has also taken on harder opposition in the past and deserves some respect. It’s not in the best of form this campaign, but the track suits and it only needs some luck from the wide draw.
Race 10 tip: Machinegun Jubs to win (+300) at Sportsbet.com.au