Slipper in Sights of Whittington

Gai Waterhouse’s chances of scoring her fifth Golden Slipper win improved on Saturday when Whittington confirmed his place in her Slipper team with a strong win in the Lonhro Plate at Warwick Farm.

Whittingon is part of Gai Waterhouse's strong Golden Slipper team. Photo by: Steve Hart.

Waterhouse has early favourite Overreach and Silver Slipper winner Sweet Idea well and truly on track towards the $3.5 million glamour race and her top two-year-old colt appears more than ready to join the fillies.

The raw galloper has now won two of three starts and was second in the Listed Canonbury Stakes last month.

Waterhouse concedes the fillies have the edge at this point in the lead-up but has declared Whittington as the “colt to beat” on April 6 at Randwick.

“He is the best performed colt and has the runs on the board,” Waterhouse said in her blog.

“I have trained four Golden Slipper winners; two colts, one filly and a gelding, so I do know what is required to win the race.”

The high profile Randwick trainer is confident the son of Tale Of The Cat has plenty of improvement to come before he contests the world’s richest two-year-old race.

“I know a good one when I see one,” she said.

“Whittington is fresh and he has not yet had the edge taken off him.”

Saturday’s victory propelled Whittingon on to the fourth line of Golden Slipper betting which he shares at $16 with Charlie Boy, Sweet Idea and Safeguard.

Overreach is a clear favourite at $4.40 after winning the Widden Stakes by six lengths last month.

Second in the market is unbeaten Victorian filly Villa Verde ($8) who impressed in a jump-out at Bendigo this morning.

About The Author