Veranillo set for Slipper after impressive Hinchinbrook Plate win
GODOLPHIN could have another Golden Slipper prospect on its hands after two-year-old Veranillo maintained its unbeaten run in the Hinchinbrook Plate at Randwick.
The well-bred colt camped just off the speed set by Eden Rock and booted away in the final 200 metres when challenged to record a comfortable one and half-length victory and return +270 at Crownbet.com.au.
Exceeds came from the back of the field to pay +170 at Sportsbet.com.au, while Eden Rock could not maintain the hot tempo it set to round out the placings in a six horse field.
R2 @royalrandwick Hinchinbrook Plate 1. Veranillo 2. Exceeds 3. Eden Roc – 1 1/2 L x 1/2 Neck (1:05.38 36.21) pic.twitter.com/XeDbXkDTur
— Australian Turf Club (@atc_races) February 4, 2017
Veranillo’s trainer John O’Shea said the plan is now to take the promising colt to the Golden Slipper after winning on Saturday.
“That will probably nearly get him in now in terms of prize money,” O’Shea said after Veranillo claimed the $125,000 winner’s cheque.
“We can just smoke our pipe, give him a run somewhere and at some stage we’ll put the blinkers on in the lead up to the Slipper and see if that can’t find us a little more.
“At the moment we’ll put some consideration when we get him home as to where we end up with him.”
Is it too early to say Veranillo reminds me a little of Pierro? #Randwick
— Mike (@msimps1) February 4, 2017
Jockey James Doyle believes the horse needs to show significant improvement if it is to compete in the Group 1 Golden Slipper.
“He just quite lazy, he’s hard work… Whether he’s top class I’m not sure, but he’s going the right way.” Doyle said.
Whilst agreeing with Doyle’s appraisal of Veranillo, John O’Shea said the race team is ‘happy with him’.
“He’s always been a really nice horse and we’ve always felt that despite the fact that he’s a lazy worker at home that he’ll produce on race day and at the moment he’s doing that.”