2015 Golden Slipper Late Mail Tips: O’Shea Leaning Towards Furnaces

Exosphere was on top of the 2015 Golden Slipper tips of Godolphin earlier in the week, but trainer John O’Shea has revealed that Furnaces may actually be his best chance in the Group 1 event at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.

Furnaces may be Godolphin's best winning chance in the 2015 Golden Slipper. Photo by: Steve Hart

Furnaces may be Godolphin’s best winning chance in the 2015 Golden Slipper. Photo by: Steve Hart

Furnaces has drifted in 2015 Golden Slipper betting markets after finishing second in both the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m) at Royal Randwick on February 14 and the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on March 7, but O’Shea told Sky Racing HQ this morning that the two-year-old has taken plenty of improvement out of his two race starts this preparation.

“He has just made natural improvement each time that we have stepped him out,” O’Shea said.

“He has improved again from the Todman and we have put the winkers on just to help him to help him focus a little bit.

“He will get a nice run into the race and he gets his chance.

“He needs to peak today and I am sure that he will run the best race of his preparation.”

Exosphere has been one of the best-backed runners in 2015 Golden Slipper betting markets since he recorded an impressive victory in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 28, but O’Shea is worried about how the Lonhro colt will handle the firm surface that is present at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.

However, O’Shea is still happy with Exosphere heading into the Golden Slipper and he is not ruling the juvenile out of contention in the world’s richest two-year-old race.

“Two days after his run at Warwick Farm he put on six or seven kilos and he is just a bulldog of a horse,” O’Shea said.

“I am really happy that we left him for the three weeks and he goes into the race on lovely fresh legs.

“You never know really what he has in the tank because we have never let him off the bridle and he hasn’t been fully tested yet.

“It will be interesting because he is going to be tested today.”

O’Shea is chasing his first win in the Golden Slipper after finishing second with Charge Forward in the 2004 edition of the race.

Exosphere is currently available at 2015 Golden Slipper odds of $4.20 and is on the second line of betting behind Vancouver with Ladbrokes, while Furnaces is available at a quote of $15.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.