Golden Slipper still a possibility for Mishani Honcho

A Golden Slipper campaign is still a possibility for Queensland two year old Mishani Honcho even though he was beaten as an odds on favourite at Doomben last Saturday.

Mishani Honcho is still a chance to run in the Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Mishani Honcho is still a chance to run in the Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Mishani Honcho was sent out the $1.60 favourite in the six horse field in the $65,000 Coca-Cola Amatil QTIS Handicap (1200m) but failed to gather in the leaders for apprentice James Orman after settling near the tail of the field.

The race was won by his stablemate One Standout but trainer Les Ross wasn’t completely disappointed with the run and said he would have further discussions with connections before finalising a trip to Sydney for the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21.

“I’m disappointed he didn’t win but a trip away is still on the cards but I’ll need to talk to his owner first,” Ross told Racing Queensland News.

“It was a badly run race for him and they walked up front. Nothing took on the winner.

“Even though he was a fair way back I still thought he would pick them up but he couldn’t.

“He was less than two lengths off them at the finish so it wasn’t too bad a run.”

Mishani Honcho isn’t among the nominations for the Golden Slipper and a late fee of $150,000 would have to be paid to secure a spot in the world’s richest two year race.

If the Jet Spur youngster was added to the Golden Slipper nominations he would be at the top of the Order Of Entry with eligible earnings of $263,500 from four wins and two placings from seven starts.

The latest Order Of Entry for the Golden Slipper that was released on February 9 had the Robert Smerdon trained Thurlow at the head of the list with $189,500 ahead of Gai Waterhouse’s undefeated colt Vancouver with $150,800.

If the Golden Slipper is ruled out, Ross will still contemplate a start in the Group 1 $1m ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 4 and thinks that Mishani Honcho would be suited by the 1400m journey.

“I’m not ruling out the Sires’ Produce either. The way he raced he might be better suited in that,” Ross said.

Ross said that  the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 7 would be a nice lead up race for Mishani Honcho if a Golden Slipper start was confirmed.

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.