Trainer Gerald Ryan is certain Snitzerland is going into Saturday’s Golden Slipper at peak condition and the addition of blinkers might be the edge she needs to turn the tables on favourite Samaready.

Snitzerland

Snitzerland will wear blinkers in the Golden Slipper - photo (c) Steven Dowden

Ryan said that Snitzerland pulled up a bit big after her last run when fourth to Samaready in the Group 2 $300,000 Jacobs Creek Reisling Slipper Trial (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 but would strip fitter on Saturday.

“She pulled up big off her last run and I said all the time she was going to improve off it and she has,” Ryan said.

“She’s getting more muscles and stronger as she goes along. She looks terrific.”

Regular rider Corey Brown partnered the Snitzel filly when she wore blinkers for the first time in a gallop on Tuesday and gave Ryan a glowing report for her lead up to the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

“Sometimes horses can get really fired up when you put the blinkers on them,” Brown said.

“She was on her toes a little bit out the back but once she got into her gallop she was great.”

Brown was aboard Snitzerland when she breezed down the Flemington straight to score by two and three quarter lengths over Extreme Impact in the Group 3 $125,000 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) on March 10 before her last start fourth.

Ryan will saddle up three runners in the Slipper with Snitzerland and Cavalry Rose sharing $26 on the betting board with his other runner Amorino at $67.

The Mick Price trained Samaready is still a very short firm favourite at $2.50 with the Gai Waterhouse trained Pierro the next best at $6.

Cavalry Rose will also wear a gear change and Ryan has put a one eyed blinker on the Charge Forward filly after she showed a tendency to shift out in the straight when narrowly beaten by Ichihara in the Group 2 $175,000 Mondial Pink Diamond Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last week.

All of Ryan’s Slipper runners drew inside gates with Amorino in two, Cavalry Rose in five and Snitzerland drawing the worst of the trio at seven.

The John O’Shea  trained runner Shelford, who will be ridden by Hong Kong based jockey Brett Prebble will wear winkers for the first time.

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.