Silver Slipper Stakes will rate Veranillo’s Golden Slipper chances

Trainer John O’Shea will rate Veranillo’s Golden Slipper chances on his performance in the Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Veranillo, above, will enhance his chances for the Golden Slipper with a good performance in the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Veranillo, above, will enhance his chances for the Golden Slipper with a good performance in the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

The two times winning colt takes on the undefeated flying filly She Will Reign who is the odds on $1.55 favourite for the Silver Slipper Stakes and also sits at the top of the Ladbrokes market order at $5 for the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 18.

Veranillo is currently marked at $6 for the Silver Slipper Stakes and is rated a $13 chance for the Golden Slipper but that could firm up with a competitive performance against the Gary Porteill trained She Will Reign.

“He’s up in class, so we’ll know where we stand with him after Saturday,” O’Shea said.

“There’s a couple of smart ones in the race, but at this stage we’ll be going on to the Golden Slipper.

“He’s a very nice colt who had shown ability in his first prep and raced up to it with a good, tough win.”

“We’re really happy with where he’s at …. the only thing is that he hasn’t run time yet.”

Veranillo has drawn barrier four in the seven horse Silver Slipper Stakes field and Brenton Avdulla will wear the Godolphin royal blue silks when he re-unites with the Medaglio D’Oro colt after steering him to a debut win in an 1100m 2yo Handicap at Rosehill on November 12 before James Doyle scored on him in the Listed $125,000 Hinchinbrook Plate (1100m) at Randwick on February 4.

Doyle is currently out of action after breaking his hand in a race fall at Randwick last Monday but is hoping to be back in time to ride Veranillo in the Golden Slipper.

She Will Reign has earned her spot at the top of the Golden Slipper market order with an eight and a quarter lengths win in a 1000m Kembla Grange 2yo Maiden on December 10 followed by a four lengths win in the Restricted Listed $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick on December 17.

A blistering nine lengths victory in a recent 808m barrier trial at Warwick Farm with race day jockey Ben Melham in the saddle indicated that She Will Reign is still in sizzling form for her Golden Slipper countdown.

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.