Black Opal Stakes winner Lucky Raquie is not a certain runner in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 5 with winning trainer Gerald Ryan to weigh up his Sydney Autumn Carnival options for the two year old.
Trainer Gerald Ryan, right, has to decide if Lucky Raquie will run in the Golden Slipper. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Lucky Raquie came with a late rush to collar the leaders to win the Listed $275,000 Seppelt Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on Sunday to collect the second feature race for the weekend for owner Iris O’Farrell after Lankan Rupee won the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday carrying the well-recognised yellow and red colours.
O’Farrell also owns Ryan’s brilliant two year old Rubick who was sent to the paddock after running fourth in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22 and Lucky Raquie could be set to take the colt’s place in the Golden Slipper.
“She’s nominated for the Slipper but I always thought she would be a Sires’ and Champagne horse,” Ryan told AAP.
“We’ll sit down and work it out. If we went to the Slipper I’d keep her fresh and probably wouldn’t run her again but if you were aiming her at one of those other big races during the carnival you’d probably go to the Sires’ and the Champagne.
“And she might have one run in the middle somewhere.”
Ryan has always thought that Lucky Raquie had plenty of ability but thinks that the Encosta De Lago filly will be better suited over a longer journey than the 1200m of the Golden Slipper.
Black Opal winning jockey Glyn Schofield agreed with Ryan and said that Lucky Raquie might not have the brilliance to be a Golden Slipper contender.
“She’s not quite a Slipper horse,” Schofield said.
“She’s not that naturally quick early on but she is certainly strong at the end of her race and the races from the Slipper and onwards would be ideal for her.”
The Group 1 $1m Inglis ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) is run at Randwick the week after the Golden Slipper, the first day of ‘The Championships’ with the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) another two weeks later at Randwick.
Lucky Raquie is rated a $34 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au for the Golden Slipper with Blue Diamond winner Earthquake the $2.90 favourite for the richest two year old race in the world.
Last start Silver Slipper winner Mossfun is the second pick at $7.50 with Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Unencumbered at $11.
