Favourites Extreme Choice and Flying Artie will have this final gallop heading into Saturday’s Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on Tuesday morning.
Golden Slipper favourite Extreme Choice will gallop at Rosehill on Tuesday morning. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Caulfield trainer Mick Price has arranged to have his two colts gallop on the Rosehill course proper out of the 1200m chute where the Golden Slipper starts with race jockeys Craig Newitt and Damien Oliver making the trip to Sydney for the hit out.
“They’re just getting settled in until next Tuesday… they’ve got a course proper gallop coming out of the Slipper chute,” Price told Racing.com.
“I’ve got D Oliver and C Newitt (going up to ride them) – that’ll be their gallop into the Slipper.”
Price has reported a trouble free transition to their new surroundings in Sydney after Extreme Choice, ridden by Newitt, and Flying Artie with Oliver in the saddle, ran the quinella in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 27.
“Everything is good – blood picture before travel good, after travel good,” Price said.
“At this point – (everything is) superb.”
The unbeaten Extreme Choice heads the Golden Slipper market order at $2.90 at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of stablemate Flying Artie at $6.
The John O’Shea trained Astern is the next in the betting at $7.50 ahead of one time favourite Capitalist and Gai Waterhouse’s Kiss And Make Up who are both at $10.
Price said that the colts have the edge over the fillies this year and can see Gai Waterhouse’s last start winner Kiss And Make Up as one of the hardest to beat.
“It’s been a pretty open year in Sydney, horses appear in different races – I don’t think there’s a strong filly as such, it’s down to the colts,” Price said.
“Gai’s colt looked pretty nice and probably the timing on that colt is okay.
“I’m very happy with my two and this is the best chance I’ve had to win a Slipper for sure.”
Kiss And Make Up scored on debut in a Canterbury midweek 1200m two year old maiden on February 17 and then made the transition up to Saturday class with an all the way win in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 5 beating the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Capitalist and Weatherly.
Latest Golden Slipper market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.90 Extreme Choice, $6 Flying Artie, $7.50 Astern, $10 Kiss And Make Up, Capitalist, $15 Good Standing, $17 Calliope, Defcon, Scarlet Rain, Yankee Rose, $26 Honesty Prevails, $34 Telperion, $41 Tessera, $51 French Fern, $67 Star Turn, $81 Detective, $101 Sweet Sherry, $201 Quick Feet.
