Odds, tips and bookie specials for Golden Slipper day at Rosehill
THE Golden Slipper is where dreams are made for trainers, jockeys and owners.
The $3.5 million feature for two-year-olds comprises the very best juveniles in Australia and the field of 17 will set the Rosehill track alight.
The 10-race card this Saturday not only features the Golden Slipper, but the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes as well, which includes Australia’s best racehorse Winx and prominent Kiwi Turn Me Loose.
The Rosehill Guineas sits in between the two major races as Victorian Tarzino looks to give Mick Price a big win before he saddles up Extreme Choice and Flying Artie in the Slipper.
It’s a huge day of racing and WilliamHill.com.au have all the deals you need to make money on Slipper day.
Race 1 – Nathan’s Famous Epona Stakes (1900m)
Heavens Above has turned consistent form into winning form by going back-to-back at Randwick. The Tim Martin-trained mare has stepped up in distance and it has worked, winning its last two in fine fashion. It goes up to 1900m for this and its breeding suggests it will see out this distance. It opened at $3.80 and has since drifted out to $4.
All Cerise has also drifted in the betting, but remains a top winning chance. The Chris Waller-trained mare won four consecutive races before running second to Heavens Above last time out. It wasn’t disgraced in that run and looked the winner in the straight before being reeled in late. It will get its own way in front and it drops down significantly in weight. $4.60 looks like a good each way price.
Skyline Blush is a four-year-old mare which is warming up nicely this campaign. It has finished fifth and fourth in two runs and it steps up to a distance where it has won and placed in two starts. It stays at the same weight as last start which isn’t ideal, but the extra distance suits and it should be prominent at the end. Bookmakers have it safe at $8.
Race 1 tip: All Cerise to win ($4.60) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – Irresistible Pools Manion Cup (2400m)
Dee I Cee is a former New Zealand runner now with Gai Waterhouse which tried hard last start. The four-year-old hasn’t won in its last five starts, but it did finish fourth in the New Zealand Derby behind Mongolian Khan and Volkstok’n’barrel, which is good form for this. An Australian win isn’t far away and bookmakers have it on the second line of betting at $4.
Libran scored its first Australian win last start and it looked impressive in doing so. The Chris Waller-trained gelding scored a narrow win over 2000m and the rise in distance looks ideal. It has won twice over this distance from three starts and it hasn’t really been punished in the weights. It rises up 2kg, but it carried 63kg to victory at York so it’s hardly a big weight. Looks tough to beat at $2.30.
French import Auvray had the flashing light on last start when it ran fourth behind Libran. The five-year-old is a classy type with five wins to its name with two coming at this distance. Its last win in France came over 3000m so they will have Melbourne Cup aspirations and this looks a suitable target in the meantime. Big weight to carry, but it looks an each way chance at $6.
Race 2 tip: Libran to win ($2.30) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 3 – The Sebring Darby Munro (1200m)
Santa Ana Lane is an impressive gelding for Lee and Anthony Freeman which has been dealt an unfortunate barrier draw. The three-time winner has drawn 18 which doesn’t discount its chances fully, but it will make it harder to win. It won the Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield last start and that form should stack up for this, so consider at the $13 price.
Speak Fondly didn’t fire last start in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick, but it’s too classy to leave out here. The Gai Waterhouse-trained filly is unbeaten in two starts second up which bodes well for this and the rise in distance is ideal where it has won on three occasions. Drawn awkwardly, but look for it to settle on the pace. $6.50 available in a tough field.
Flippant is in a fresh state which suits and its last race was a fourth behind Mahuta at the Gold Coast. That form should be good for this and it was good enough to beat race rival Egyptian Symbol by 1.3 lengths two back. It has any amount of ability and Bowman gets back in the saddle for this. Another strong winning chance at $6.50.
Race 3 tip: Speak Fondly to place ($2.25) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 4 – Ranvet Stakes (2000m)
Dibayani has a formline punters hate, but it showed grit when running Winx to within 1.5 lengths last start and that should be respected. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained gelding has a horrible winning strike rate of 2 from 19 and it’s having its first start on this track, but bookmakers have it as the equal $3.80 favourite. That price is too short for our liking, but a win won’t be too far away.
Hauraki is on the same line as Dibayani and there has been nothing wrong with its form this campaign. The John O’Shea-trained gelding has finished third behind Winx in both runs this preparation and it now gets up to its best distance. It is another type which doesn’t win often, but it looks primed for this and it will be tough to beat.
Mongolian Khan was fair in its return after suffering colic, but it’s too good to leave out of calculations. The Caulfield Cup winner has yet to perform second up in the past, but punters should see an improved performance at Rosehill. Opie Bosson comes over to ride and the $9 looks a decent each way price.
Race 4 tip: Hauraki to win ($3.80) at Bet365.com.au
Race 5 – China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m)
Winx is currently the best horse in Australia at this distance and punters would have been happy to see the price available. The Chris Waller-trained star is currently paying $1.70 which is the best price offered since it won the 2-2015 Cox Plate. This field is much tougher than it has faced in two starts this campaign which is the biggest concern, but we think the win price will only drop this week. The champion tag might get used if it beats this field.
Turn Me Loose is a tough customer with plenty of class. The Murray Baker-trained horse puts itself in the race and the opposition finds it very tough to get past it in the straight. It’s a multiple group one winner and is still a touch underrated by the betting public. It opened at $7.50 and has since drifted to $8 which is a great value price. First run around Rosehill is the concern, but the place price of $1.90 looks like a nice multi-bet inclusion.
Press Statement’s bubble burst in the Randwick Guineas, but there were some upsets that day so it might pay to forgive the run. The three-year-old gets into this race with 56kg which doesn’t suit it entirely as it has never faced this quality of opposition, but punters think it’s a winning chance. $4.60 is currently being offered, but we would suggest looking elsewhere and wait till it drops back to its own age grade.
Race 5 tip: Winx/Turn Me Loose quinella at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 6 – Rosehill Guineas (2000m)
Le Romain will be looking to cause an upset again after it defeated Press Statement last time out in the Randwick Guineas. The Kris Lees-trained gelding has gone from a rating 67 placing to winning a group one in five starts and that is an incredible feat. It looks like it will only get better over more distance and bookmakers have shortened its price significantly. It paid $21 last start and is currently $7 for this. Looks a strong chance if it isn’t too tired.
Tarzino will reward punters soon and it could come in this. Mick Price could be in for a big day and Tarzino looks the best of his runners going forward. The son of Tavistock finished second behind Palentino in the Australian Guineas and it’s only warming up this preparation. It won the Victorian Derby last year and although it’s better over the extreme staying distances, the 2000m looks suitable third up. The testing material at $2.50.
Jameka will carry the lightest weight at 54.5kg and its two runs this campaign have been full of merit. The Ciaron Maher-trained filly won its only start over this distance and it showed last campaign that it can stay with the best of them. If this race is run at a genuine tempo, Jameka could finish over the top of them at $6.50.
Race 6 tip: Tarzino to win ($2.50) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 7 – Longines Golden Slipper (1200m)
We thought punters would come for Extreme Choice and they have. The Mick Price-trained colt opened at $3 after the barrier draw and has already been specked into $2.90. It comes into this having won the Blue Diamond at its last start and it has shown great speed in every race. Expect it to ping the gates, go forward, and run good sectionals which will make it tough for the chasing brigade.
Stablemate Flying Artie looks ready made for the Slipper and it has drawn favourably in barrier five. The Artie Schiller colt has been getting too far back in the running before unleashing a big sprint in the straight. Jockey Damien Oliver should be able to find a handy position and it could give them windburn in the final 200m. $5 looks ideal and we’re expecting that price to shorten.
We are prepared to forgive the run of Capitalist last start. It didn’t show its usual gate speed and was well beaten by Kiss And Make Up, but we’ll put that run down to the track and the $9 is much better than punters were getting in the early Slipper markets. Drawing barrier two is ideal and we wouldn’t be surprised if it paid off all the early Slipper punters which took the shorts.
Golden Slipper tip: Flying Artie to win ($5) at Crownbet.com.au
Race 8 – Banjo The Galaxy (1100m)
Fell Swoop couldn’t have been more impressive without winning at Caulfield behind Flamberge and it’s undefeated in two runs second up. The Matthew Dale-trained gelding is a stable star after scoring four consecutive wins last preparation. It gets in with only 52.5kg which will bring it right into contention at $6.50 in the betting.
Terravista can’t be left out at the same quote after running second in the Lightning behind Chautauqua. Although that form hasn’t been franked, it is unbeaten at this distance and it has won three from six when second up. It will be giving away weight to some of the fancied chances, but it has the class edge and it could prove tough to beat.
English won with great style last start and it might have to produce a similar effort to win this. The Waterhouse-trained filly has drawn barrier 17 which will force it to drop back in the field, and against such a large field, that could be too tough for it. The weight of only 51kg shouldn’t be overlooked and it’s dangerous if it gets some luck in the running.
Race 8 tip: Terravista to place ($2.35) at Bet365.com.au
Race 9 – Tab Birthday Card Stakes (1200m)
Brook Road flashed home late to run second behind Coolring last start and it should benefit from the large field. The Kris Lees-trained mare has won six from 18 with three coming at this distance and it will likely drop back from barrier 10 and produce a big sprint in the final stages. It does require a hot tempo up front, but it should get one from this field. $7 in the betting.
Perignon showed its true class by winning the Light Finger last start and its form prior included three placings behind Speak Fondly. That form might get franked earlier in the day and the Gerald Ryan-trained filly gets a nice weight of 54kg for this. Another strong chance in a field full of class. $7.50 is being offered by bookmakers currently.
The $6 favourite is Sultry Feeling after recording an impressive win at Randwick last start. That form has stood up after Peeping, which ran second, has since come out and won a group one last week. That bodes well for the daughter of Encosta de Lago and despite drawing barrier 14, it looks tough to beat in this.
Race 9 tip: Perignon to win ($7.50) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 10 – Newcastle Newmarket Handicap (1350m)
Nancy is a classy mare for Peter and Paul Snowden which was working home well last start and it looks prime for this. The four-year-old by Big Brown has won three from seven with three placings and that consistency is what punters love. It’s at a nice price of $5.50 for this and we’re expecting that to drop as the race draws nearer.
Ecuador is a six-win gelding which brings plenty of class and experience to this race. The Waterhouse-trained runner is a four-time winner at Rosehill and although it finished sixth in the Canterbury Stakes, it did show some fight late in the running. It hasn’t faced a field this easier in awhile so respect it at $5.
Amovatio looks a value runner at $13 after getting too far back at Canberra last start. The Chris Waller-trained gelding has plenty of experience and it was winning big races in the winter last season. Hugh Bowman rides and it’s too good to leave out of calculations.
Race 10 tip: Nancy to win ($5.50) at Sportsbet.com.au