Darley Australia’s next superstar Earthquake has shaken up Golden Slipper markets after her electrifying win in last Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Earthquake is now the clear cut favourite for the Golden Slipper. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Earthquake now dominates the betting for the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (100m) at Rosehill on April 5 with Ladbrokes.com.au elevating her to a clear cut $2.90 favourite.
Gold Coast Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Unencumbered is on the second line of betting at $7.50 with the Gai Waterhouse trained Law the third pick at $10.
Blue Diamond Stakes winning trainer Peter Snowden will follow the same path as he did with Sepoy in 2011 with the Elusive Quality colt going on to win the Golden Slipper following his Blue Diamond Stakes victory.
Snowden gave Sepoy one run in between the two Group 1s when he ran second in the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill and he will saddle up Earthquake at the same meeting in the Group 2 $300,000 Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 22.
Earthquake will head back to Sydney this week with Snowden even surprised by the ease of her one and a half lengths win over the Mick Price pair of Jabali and Cornrow in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
“What impressed me most was the arrogance of her win,’’ Snowden told The Daily Telegraph.
“She was on a loose rein and as coasting coming to the turn then she sprinted so quickly, she had them covered in a couple of strides.
“I had tingles down my spine – she has so much natural ability and is very exciting.’’
“Earthquake will have four or five days at the farm.
“She can go to the Reisling Stakes two weeks before the Slipper. She is the sort of horse who can do that.
“When she worked on Tuesday it was Sepoy type of work. It will be harder in the Slipper but the way she’s winning races, she’s got the necessary attributes to do it.
“It’s all there for her.”
Snowden believes that there is still some improvement left in the Exceed And Excel filly but knows he will have to time her run to the minute to have her at her top for the second time in six weeks.
“I don’t think this filly has peaked yet,’’ Snowden said.
“She had only one barrier trial and an easy run (Prelude) before winning the Blue Diamond.
Queensland based jockey Damian Browne produced a cool and masterful ride to win the Blue Diamond Stakes from gate fifteen but will be have to hand up the ride to stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy who is recovering from a knee injury.
