2016 Golden Slipper barrier draw: Extreme Choice draws midfield

Favourite Extreme Choice has drawn perfectly at barrier seven in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Extreme Choice has drawn perfectly at barrier seven in the 2016 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Extreme Choice has drawn perfectly at barrier seven in the 2016 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Trainer Mick Price can see jockey Craig Newitt giving Extreme Choice a dream ride just off the pace from barrier seven and the Caulfield trainer is also talking up the chances of Flying Artie who has drawn barrier five with Damien Oliver to ride.

Extreme Choice and Flying Artie ran the quinella in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 27 and Price can see the pair fighting out the finish again.

“I have got the two horses that have coped with everything and in a pretty good spot I would say,” Price said.
“I think they are the best two colts in the race and if they have a nice run you will see them blast away and they will be very hard to beat both of them.”

Flying Artie has had to overcome wide barriers at his last two starts and Price was very happy that the Artie Schiller colt will get an easier run from an inside draw.

Price can see Flying Artie taking up a much more forward position and be in a winning spot coming to the home turn as opposed to his last two starts when he had to settle near the tail of the field from his wide gates.

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Golden Slipper runners of Capitalist, Defcon aand Quick Feet came up with contrasting barriers.

The filly Quick Feet drew the rails with one time favourite and Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Capitalist drawing next to her at two while Black Opal Stakes winner Defcon will have to do some work from barrier fourteen.

The three John O’Shea trained runners all drew poorly and will need plenty of luck from the wide barriers.

The highest rated of the O’Shea Golden Slipper runners, Astern, drew the extreme outside barrier at seventeen and will start from sixteen when the field is reduce to that size at scratching time on Saturday morning.

James McDionnald will ride Astern while Sam Clipperton has picked up the ride on last Saturday’s Magic Night Stakes winner Calliope who came up with barrier fifteen.

O’Shea’s third runner Telperion drew gate twelve and will wear the blinkers for the first time with English jockey James Doyle in the saddle.

Gai Waterhouse is aiming to win her seventh Golden Slipper and become the most winningest trainer and has two good chances in Todman Stakes winner Kiss And Make Up and Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Scarlet Rain.

Kerrin McEvoy rides Kiss And Make Up who drew barrier nine and Tommy Berry on Scarlet Rain will have to repeat last year’s winning effort after the filly came up with gate sixteen.

Berry rode an inspired race in the 2015 to win Waterhouse’s sixth Golden Slipper when he steered Vancouver to a memorable victory from the outside gate.

Extreme Choice remains the favourite for the Golden Slipper at $2.90 at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of stablemate Flying Artie at $5 and Capitalist at $9.

Golden Slipper market order: $2.90 Extreme Choice, $5 Flying Artie, $9 Capitalist, $10 Kiss And Make Up, Astern, $14 Good Standing, $15 Calliope, $17 Defcon, $19 Scarlet Rain, $26 Telperion, $31 Star Turn, Yankee Rose, $41 Honesty Prevails, $101 Sweet Sherry, $126 Quick Feet, Moqueen, French Fern.

2016 Golden Slipper Final Field: 1 Extreme Choice (7), 2 Flying Artie (5), 3 Defcon (14), 4 Kiss And Make Up (9), 5 Astern (17), 6 Star Turn (11), 7 Capitalist (2), 8 Good Standing (10), 9 Telperion (12), 10 French Fern (13), 11 Scarlett Rain (16), 12 Calliope (15), 13 Yankee Rose (3), 14 Sweet Sherry (8), 15 Honesty Prevails (6), 16 Quick Feet (1), Emergency: 17 Moqueen (4).

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.