A small field of eight three year olds will line up on Saturday to contest the 2015 Group 2 $250,000 Blackwoods Uvex Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill.
Ottoman has drawn the outside of the eight horse Silver Slipper Stakes field at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Equal Golden Slipper favourite Ottoman has drawn the outside of the field at barrier eight with James McDonald to ride and another win by the Exceed And Excel filly will push her to outright favouritism for the richest two year old race in the world.
The other Golden Slipper equal favourite Vancouver was listed in the nominations for the Silver Slipper Stakes but the Gai Waterhouse trained colt didn’t appear in the final field.
Ottoman is resuming from a short let up after the John O’Shea trained filly scored at her only race start over 1100m at Rosehill on December 20.
In contrast to Ottoman, stablemate Holler came up with the inside gate with Sam Clipperton to ride and is also trying to make it two wins from two starts after winning on debut over 1100m at Randwick on January 17.
Co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden and jockey Hugh Bowman have a big opinion of Paceman who has drawn awkwardly in the small field at seven.
Paceman is another youngster who is looking to gain a start in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21 and also gets a chance to keep his unbeaten record intact in the Silver Slipper Stakes.
The Duporth colt has had one barrier trial for a second over 803m at Warwick Farm since winning his only race start over 1100m at Rosehill on November 15.
“He works as well as any two-year-old I’ve had but they have to take that to the races,” Snowden told TVN.
“I knew how good Earthquake was at home and she did it once, but I was relieved when she came back and did it again, proving she could really run.”
Voilier has also won his only start over 1100m at Rosehill on December 6 and has won a 803m Warwick Farm barrier trial in preparation for his return.
Tye Angalnd will partner Voilier again and the Beneteau gelding will jump from barrier 3.
Smart Queensland two year old Mishani Honcho has Chris Whiteley back in the saddle after apprentice James Orman was aboard last start when third over 1200m at Doomben on February 7 and will came out of gate five.
Team Hawkes has brought Headwater back to Sydney following his debut win over 1000m at Moonee Valley on December 27 and Blake Shinn takes the ride and will jump from barrier four.
Warwick Farm trainer David Vandyke will test Snitzel’s Goddess against some tougher opposition in the Silver Slipper Stakes after the Snitzel filly won her only start in a 1000m Canberra two year old handicap on January 23.
Snitzel’s Goddess has drawn barrier two with Kathy O’Hara to retain the ride.
Country trained Alart is coming to town for the first time with two wins from three starts, her latest effort being a win over 1000m at Dubbo on February 8 and will jump from gate six.
