Premiership winning trainer Chris Waller is tipping the filly English to win the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Gai Waterhouse trained English is Chris Waller’s Golden Slipper tip. Photo by Steve Hart.
Waller is without a runner this year in the richest two year old race in the world and feels that the Gai Waterhouse trained English has drawn the right barrier to get a lovely run in the race and be hard to beat.
“I think English will win, one of Gai Waterhouse’s,” Waller said.
“She’s got a good draw, will get a lovely run, Blake Shinn rides.”
English put herself into Golden Slipper contention with a three quarters of a length win over Saturday’s rivals Ottoman and Fireworks in the Group 2 $300,000 Guinness Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 7.
The Encosta De Lago filly made it two wins from two starts with the Reisling Stakes victory after winning on debut over 1000m in a Kembla Grange Maiden on January 31.
Waterhouse will also saddle up the favourite Vancouver and one of the roughies in the field, Speak Fondly.
Waller also praised the efforts of trainer John O’Shea to qualify four of the Godolphin owned two year olds for the Golden Slipper.
Exosphere, Furnaces, Haptic and Ottoman will all carry the Godolphin Royal Blue, with different coloured caps, giving the stable an excellent chance to come away with a large slice of the $3.5 million in prizemoney on offer.
“Gee, you have to take your hat off to Godolphin. They’ve got four runners there, it is a big effort,” Waller said.
Two of the four are last start winners with Lonhro colt Exosphere the most fancied after winning the Group 2 $175,000 Pro-Ride Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 28 in convincing style.
Haptic also put up a good performance in leading all of the way to beat his stablemate Furnaces in the Listed $125,000 DX Solutions Lonhro Plate (1100m) at Randwick on February 14.
Furnaces has since had another run when he chased home Vancouver in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 7.
Exceed And Excel filly Ottoman was installed as one of the early Golden Slipper favourites after winning on debut over 1100m at Rosehill on December 20.
Her two runs since have seen her run fourth to Headwater in the Group 2 $250,000 Blackwoods Uvex Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 21 followed by a second to English in the Resiling Stakes.
The Team Hawkes trained Headwater was also posted at the top of the Golden Slipper market order after winning the Silver Slipper Stakes but then disappointed when third to Vancouver in the Todman Stakes.
Waller said that Headwater was better than his last run suggests and was willing to forget it and of course he is giving Vancouver a great chance as well.
“Headwater. Forget its run the other day. And Vancouver is a very good horse,” Waller said.
Latest Golden Slipper market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.10 Vancouver, $4 Exosphere, $12 Headwater, $13 Ready For Victory, $14 Furnaces $16 Haptic, $17 English, $18 Lake Geneva, $31 Speak Fondly, Ottoman, $41 Fireworks, Reemah, $61 Single Gaze, Haybah, $71 Odyssey Moon $101 Serenade, Look To The Stars, $151 Racy, $301 Heavenly Hand.
