Overreach dominates Golden Slipper markets

Overreach’s electrifying win at Rosehill on Saturday has cemented her spot at the head of the markets for the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 6.

overreach

Overreach dominates Golden Slipper markets after scintillating win in Moet & Chandon Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Gai Waterhouse trained filly has shut out every other runner with bookies posting the Exceed And Excel filly as short as $2.05 for the world’s richest two year old.

The Shaun Dwyer trained Villa Verde who was a distant four and a quarter lengths second to Overreach in the Group 2 $300,000 Moet & Chandon Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday and David Payne’s Criterion are hovering around the $10 and $11 mark.

Even though Criterion ran a slower time in winning the Group 2 $300,000 Spotless Todman Stakes (1200m), winning rider Craig Williams still rates the Sebring colt a genuine Golden Slipper chance.

“He’s a very good solid two year old and with the line-up that’s happening now with the Golden Slipper he will be a main contender,’ Williams said.

Waterhouse youngsters dominate the top half of the Golden Slipper market with Warwick Farm winner Whittington at $13 and Silver Slipper Stakes winner Sweet Idea at $17.

But Saturday’s winner Overreach remains Waterhouse’s top pick after her all the way win which was on the top of a similar performance in the Listed $100,000 Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 16 which she won by five and three quarters lengths.

“I’m very lucky to have three chances in the Slipper, and I don’t think there is much between the three of them but at present she’ll be the short priced favourite,” Waterhouse said following Overreach’s win on Saturday.

Tommy Berry was very excited after Overreach’s scintillating win and surprised everybody when he said the filly had more improvement in her.

“She pulled up and had a lot bigger blow than I thought she would so she has got improvement which is hard to believe,’ Berry said.

“I thought it was her best performance, but then she pulled up the way she did and that says it all.”

Dwyer and jockey Hugh Bowman could offer no excuses for Villa Verde and both agreed she will definitely improve with that run under belt.

“It was a good effort, no excuses as far as the winner goes, it went really well, this filly will definitely improve going in to the Slipper,” said jockey Hugh Bowman.

“No excuses but she had enough at the furlong.”

Villa Verde was having her first run since winning over 1000m at Flemington on November 6 and Dwyer is expecting the run to tightened her right up for Golden Slipper day.

“We are not conceding defeat just yet,” Dwyer said.

This Saturday at Rosehill the two year olds get a final chance to make claims for the Golden Slipper in the Group 2 $175,000 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) for the fillies and the Group 2 $175,000 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) for the colts and geldings.

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.