Connections paid the late entry fee of $150,000 to get Single Gaze into the 2015 Golden Slipper field and trainer Nick Olive is happy to have a runner in the Group 1 event at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Single Gaze will jump from an outside barrier when she contests the 2015 Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Single Gaze was not initially included in the nominations for the Golden Slipper, but connections opted to fork out the late entry fee to get the Not A Single Doubt filly a start in the race after she finished second behind Takedown in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on March 8.
Olive told Sky Racing HQ that he initially thought that connections were kidding when they said they wanted to pay the late entry fee, but he believes that the wo-year-old has come on from her Black Opal Stakes run and is a worthy of a place in the 2015 Golden Slipper field.
“I actually slipped over to LA for a few days after the Black Opal for a function over there and I got a text from the owners when I was over there saying that they wanted to pay up,” Olive said.
“I thought that they were kidding and dismissed it, but when I got home I realised that they were quiet serious and it just eventuated from there.
“I am really happy with the horse and I don’t have a problem with her going into the race, but it was just paying the $150,000 that was the challenge for me.
“If they were prepared to put that up, I was prepared to train her for the race because I think that she has come on since the race and done well.
“I feel that she has really thrived since then and I feel that she has improved again.”
Single Gaze started his racing career with an upset win in the CFMEU/West Tradies Plate (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 1 and was sent to the spelling paddock after finishing third in both the Wyong Magic Millions Classic on December 18 and the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on January 10.
The juvenile returned straight back to the sort of form in the Black Opal Stakes and Oliver said that he has been simply ticking the filly over heading into the Golden Slipper this weekend.
“She doesn’t need a great deal of work and we haven’t done much with her between the Black Opal and she won’t do much into Saturday,” Olive said.
“We are just ticking her over basically.”
Single Gaze is currently available at 2015 Golden Slipper odds of $51 with Ladbrokes, while Vancouver ($3) remains a clear favourite from Exosphere ($4) and Headwater ($11).
