Gai Waterhouse can see her Golden Slipper winner Overreach running out a strong 1400m when she backs up in the Group 1 $500,000 ATC Sires Produce Stakesat Randwick on Saturday.
Overreach winning Gai Waterhouse's 5th Golden Slipper. Photo by Steve Hart.
Waterhouse, who collected her fifth trophy for winning the world’s richest two year old race, likens the 1200m of the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper run at Rosehill last Saturday more like a 1400m race because pressure is applied as soon as the gates open.
“The Golden Slipper is like a 1400m race because there is pressure on as soon as they jump,” Waterhouse said.
“If anything, there won’t be as much pressure this weekend, and it’s an easier 1400m. The dominant two-year-olds tend to dominate all the way through.”
Hong Kong bound Tommy Berry was able to take a sit on Overreach even though she was first out of the gates in the Slipper, but this week at Randwick the Exceed And Excel filly is likely to get an easy lead in front if she shows her usual gate speed.
Berry also agrees with Waterhouse and can’t see any problem with Overreach finishing off a solid 1400m.
“I still haven’t seen her with her ears pricked yet, and she always looks like she’s cruising to the post,” Berry said.
“I feel like she hasn’t knuckled down yet 100 per cent.
“She feels as strong on the line as she does at the top of the straight.”
Overreach has drawn well at barrier six in the thirteen horse field while Victorian filly Villa Verde will appreciate the extra 200m after getting too far out of her ground in the hustle bustle of the Golden Slipper and only plodded into seventh place.
Champollion gets his chance at Group 1 level aftera an impressive win in the Group 3 $125,000 the Schweppervescence (1400m) at Rosehill last Saturday and has come up with gate eight while stablemate Guelph will jump from the outside after finishing just behind the placegetters when fourth in the Golden Slipper.
If Overreach can make it two Group 1 victories in as many starts, the Group 1 $400,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 27 beckons her to emulate her star stablemate Pierro who went on to claim last year’s two year old Triple Crown by winning the Golden Slipper, the Sires Produce and the Champagne Stakes.
Pierro has gone on to became Sydney’s top three year old, keeping his home town winning record intact with ten from ten including two stunning wins at weight for age this campaign.
Reports from Tulloch Lodge indicate that Overreach has taken no harm from her stunning Golden Slipper win while stablemate Sweet Idea will be sent for spell after finishing a gallant third to her glamorous stablemate.
Berry will ride to the end of the Sydney Autumn Carnival before heading off to ride in Hong Kong on a short term contact and will be looking to add another one or two more Group 1s to his resume after chalking up his fourth Group 1 win in the Golden Slipper.
