Khan facing tough task in Silver Slipper Stakes

Co-trainer Peter Snowden concedes that his colt Khan is facing a tough task to run down speedster She Will Reign in the Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Khan,  above, will be facing a tough task chasing speedster She Will Reign in the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Khan, above, will be facing a tough task chasing speedster She Will Reign in the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Both Khan and the Gary Portelli trained She Will Reign are undefeated but their racing styles are at the opposite ends of the spectrum.

Khan came from well back in the field on debut to win the Listed $150,000 Newgate Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick on October 1 while She Will Reign has shown blistering speed to win a 1000m 2yo Maiden at Kembla Grange by eight and a quarter lengths followed by a four lengths win in the Restricted Listed $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick on December 17.

A spell hasn’t changed both youngster’s racing style with Kahn sitting just off the pace in his two barrier trials for a second over 740m at Randwick on January 27 and a win over 800m at Gosford on February 6 while She Will Reign exploded out of the gates to record a none lengths win in an 808m trial at Warwick Farm on February 6.

“He (Khan) will be vulnerable Saturday and that filly going the pace she does it will probably get him off the bit and he will be chasing a long way out, and it’s hard to run on hard when you’re chasing,” Snowden told The Daily Telegraph.

“She is a very fast filly and it’s certainly not this bloke’s go. He has pace but he is not really an 1100m horse.

“I’m not making excuses for him and he will run well, I have no doubt about that because he is a quality colt but I just don’t believe he will be best suited in a race like this first-up.”

Khan and She Will Reign are both on trial for the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 18 and a win by either two year old will see them firm in the betting.

“I want to get him into the Slipper and then hopefully the Sires and Champagne afterwards and that’s what I’ve got in mind for him and that’s the prep he’s had to get him there,” Snowden said.

“He is a very tough horse and nothing worries him and he has a gallop or a trial and comes back like he hasn’t been out there. He just copes with everything and hopefully he will come into his own over seven furlongs and a mile.”

The current market order for the Golden Slipper at Ladbrokes.com.au has She Will Reign as the favourite at $5 ahead of Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Houtzen while Khan is on the third line of betting at $11.

Melbourne jockey Ben Melham will stick with She Will Reign who has drawn barrier five in the seven horse Silver Slipper Stakes field and the Manhattan Rain filly is completely dominating the betting at $1.60.

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Khan is on the second line of betting at $4.60 and will jump from the outside gate with Kerrin McEvoy taking over from the suspended Blake Shinn.

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.