Melbourne Cup winning jockey Damien Oliver will be looking for his second Golden Slipper victory when he is reunited with Cornrow in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 5.
Cornrow, blue and gold striped cap, will be ridden by Damien Oliver in the Golden Slipper. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Oliver won the richest race in the world for two year olds on Forensics for John Hawkes in 2007 and takes over from Jim Cassidy who steered the Duporth colt into third place behind Ghibellines and Unencumbered in the Group 2 $300,000 The Other Woman Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
Cassidy reported to trainer Mick Price that Cornrow should have finished closer after being held up for a run in the straight but had to relinquish the Golden Slipper ride because of a careless riding suspension.
The in-form Cassidy will be able to ride at the Rosehill Guineas meeting on Saturday before beginning his suspension but won’t return to the saddle until the day after the Golden Slipper.
“Jim Cassidy got off Cornrow and said he should have been fighting out the finish,” Price told AAP.
“He should have finished a bit closer.”
Oliver has had a feel of Cornrow when he partnered him when second to Mohave in the Listed $120,000 Sportingbet Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) (1000m) at Caulfield on January 25.
And even though the colt is yet to win a race, his $90,000 cheque for third to Earthquake in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22 has helped lift him into twelve position in the order of entry for the Golden Slipper.
Price’s other three Golden Slipper contenders, Jabali, Eqdaam and More Radiant will be sent to the paddock after all three missed a place on Saturday.
Jabali started the $3.30 second favourite but could only manage to finish seventh to Ghibillines in the Todman Stakes with Eqdaam last of ten runners while More Radiant ($21) ran a handy fourth to Golden Slipper favourite Earthquake in the Group 2 $300,000 Parramatta Leagues Club Reisling Stakes (1200m).
“Jabali raced like a horse that has had enough and is more than likely to go to the paddock, so too Eqdaam,” Price said.
“She ran super. She’ll go to the paddock at Vinery,” Price said about More Radiant.
The Peter Snowden trained Earthquake is untroubled at the top of the Golden Slipper market order at Ladbrrokes.com.au at $2.20, well ahead of second favourite Mossfun at $6.50 and Unencumbered at $12.
Earthquake’s stable mate Ghibellines is next in the betting at $15 just in front of Cornrow at $16 and Oakleigh Girl at $17.
