Equal Golden Slipper favourites Ottoman and Vancouver are among the nominations for the Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The John O’Shea trained Ottoman, above, is among the nominations for the Silver Slipper Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.
The John O’Shea trained Ottoman and Gai Waterhouse’s Vancouver are currently marked as $7 equal favourites for the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21.
And a win by either youngster would promote them to outright favouritism for the richest two year old race in the world.
With only ten two year olds nominated for the Silver Slipper Stakes the Australian Turf Club has elected to extend the entry time until 11am local time on Tuesday February 17, 2015.
Ottoman has only been to the races on one occasion for a win over Miss Idyllic and impressive Blue Diamond Prelude runner up Pride Of Dubai when she scored over 1100m at Rosehill on December 20 last year.
The Exceed And Excel filly has had the benefit of one barrier trial for her return to the racetrack for a close up third over 803m at Warwick Farm on February 9.
O’Shea has also entered Holler for the Silver Slipper Stakes with the Commands colt coming off a win over 1100m at Randwick on January 17.
The Waterhouse trained Vancouver is a run ahead of Ottoman and kept the stable happy with a three quarters of a lengths win in the Group 3 $150,000 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on January 31.
That was only the Medaglia D’Oro colt’s second race start and he kept his winning record intact after scoring on debut in the Listed $100,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick on October 4 during last year’s Spring Carnival.
Also among the nominations for the Silver Slipper Stakes is the Exceed And Excel colt Headwater prepared by the Hawkes Racing Team.
Headwater has only been to the races for one start and came up trumps with a two and three quarter lengths win over 1000m at Moonee Valley on December 27.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Paceman is also a winner at his only race start over 1100m at Rosehill on November 15 and the stable is pleased with the progress of the Duporth colt after running second in a 803m Warwick Farm barrier trial with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
“He has to keep taking the right steps but Hughie is happy to be with him,” Snowden said.
“He has always been a good trackworker and I have always had it in the back of my mind he might be going a bit too hard in his work.
“However this time in he has become such a professional, he is easy to ride and in his trial Hughie could have had him anywhere.”
“He quicken off a dime and he is doing all the things you want him to do at the moment.”
Eagle Farm trainer Les Ross has nominated Mishani Honcho for the Silver Slipper Stakes looking to gauge if the Jet Spur colt is up to Golden Slipper standard.
Mishani Honcho is a winner of four races from seven starts and has earned $331,500 in eligible prizemoney.
