The 2014 Golden Slipper field is all but decided; with London Lolly or Modoc to take the 16th and final place in the field for the Group 1 event that will be run at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
There are expected to be no surprises when the Golden Slipper acceptances close at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning and all the major contenders are set to take their position in the final field for the $3 million race.
The only question mark currently hanging over the 2014 Golden Slipper field is London Lolly; with Team Hawkes yet to announce whether the Charge Forward filly will contest the Group 1 event.
London Lolly made her racing debut with a fourth place finish in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield on January 25 and she had no luck when second in the Quest Moonee Valley Handicap (1000m) on February 14.
The juvenile recorded her first race win with an impressive performance in the Listed Macleod St Albans Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 14 and she made it two wins on the trot in the Group 3 Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville last Saturday.
Trainer Wayne Hawkes was happy that London Lolly proved that her maiden win at Group level was not a fluke and said that the stable would consider backing the two-year-old up in the Golden Slipper this weekend.
“It’s a long way from Adelaide to Sydney, but I’ll certainly think about it that’s for sure,” Hawkes said after the race.
“I could have run her in Sydney in the fillies race up there and she beat the winner in her last start at Moonee Valley so the form has stacked up pretty well.
“Winning the stakes race the other day was great but when you win a second one, you frank it.”
Paul Perry-trained Modoc would receive the final spot in the Golden Slipper field if Team Hawkes elect not to run London Lolly, after the Haradasun gelding was unable to secure an automatic spot in the field by winning the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens last weekend.
Classy filly Earthquake ($1.90) remains a clear favourite in 2014 Golden Slipper betting markets from Silver Slipper winner Mossfun ($7), Magic Millions Classic winner Unencumbered ($12), Darley colt Ghibellines ($13) and Queensland-trained Oakleigh Girl ($16).
Update: Modoc will take the last spot in the 2014 Golden Slipper field after Team Hawkes elected not to include London Lolly in the acceptances for the Group 1 event.
Likely 2014 Golden Slipper Field
# | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Earthquake | Kerrin McEvoy | Peter Snowden |
2. | Mossfun | James McDonald | Team Hawkes |
3. | Ghibellines | Hugh Bowman | Peter Snowden |
4. | Bring Me The Maid | Chad Schofield | Peter Moody |
5. | Valentia | Tommy Berry | Gai Waterhouse |
6. | Believe Yourself | Brenton Avdulla | Gerald Ryan |
7. | Unencumbered | Craig Williams | Bjorn Baker |
8. | Eloping | Stephen Baster | Peter Morgan and Craig Widdison |
9. | Jabali | Glen Boss | Mick Price |
10. | Alpha Miss | Jason Collett | Gary Nickson |
11. | Cornrow | Damien Oliver | Mick Price |
12. | Oakleigh Girl | Craig Newitt | Danny Bougure |
13. | Memorial | Christian Reith | Peter Snowden |
14. | Law | Tim Clark | Gai Waterhouse |
15. | Risen From Doubt | Nash Rawiller | Tony McEvoy |
16. | Modoc | Blake Shinn | Paul Perry |