Invincible Star out of contention for Golden Slipper

The Tulloch Lodge trained Invincible Star is out of contention of the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 18 after undergoing recent knee surgery.

Invincible Star, above in red and white colours, is out of contention for the 2017 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Invincible Star, above in red and white colours, is out of contention for the 2017 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Co-trainer Adrian Bott notified Racing New South Stewards that smart filly Invincible Star is out for the rest of the 2017 Autumn Carnival after undergoing surgery to remain bone chips from both front knees.

Racing New South Wales released the following report.

“Co-trainer Adrian Bott has reported that Invincible Star has undergone surgery to remove bone chips from both front knees. Mr Bott advised that Invincible Star has been spelled and will not contest any races over the Sydney Autumn Carnival.”

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Invincible Star was listed as a $26 chance for the Golden Slipper at Ladbrokes.com.au and was well in contention to make the final field after being rated twelfth in the order of entry on February 27.

Invincible Star scored an impressive win on debut down the Flemington straight when she beat Lucky Louie and Madeenaty in the Group 3 $150,000 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) on Melbourne Cup Day during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

The Tulloch Lodge Team then prepared the I Am Invincible filly for the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 14 and after having a tough run three wide for the entire trip battled on in the straight to finish sixth to the brilliant Gold Coast filly Houtzen.

The Toby Edmonds trained Houtzen is on the second line of betting for the Golden Slipper at $8 with the Gerald Ryan trained Menari and kicks off her Autumn Carnival campaign this weekend.

Houtzen has already been scratched for the Group 2 $300,000 Affinity Shopping Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday but Edmonds still has her in the fields for the QTIS 2yo Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday and in the Group 3 $300,000 Mercedes-Benz Canberra Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on Sunday.

Golden Slipper $3 favourite She Will Reign will continue her Golden Slipper build up when she runs in the Reisling Stakes as the $1.26 top pick.

The Gary Portelli trained filly is unbeaten from three race starts, a debut win in a 1000m Kembla Grange 2yo Maiden followed by a win in the Restricted Listed $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick on December 17 before resuming to win the Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 18.

Early market order for the Golden Slipper at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 She Will Reign, $8 Houtzen, Menari, $13 Catchy, $15 Pariah, Chauffeur, $17 Trekking, $21 Muraaqeb, Veranillo, From Within,  Limbo Soul, Madeenaty, $26 or better the rest.

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.