A Golden Slipper start is on the radar for Clifton Red following her debut win in the Group 3 $150,000 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington today.
Winning trainer David Hayes will now send Clifton Red to Sydney and if the Sebring filly trains on well he will consider running in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 5.
“We are going to go Sydney and run in the lead up to the Slipper, but probably looking at the Randwick Carnival unless she invites herself into the Slipper,” Hayes said.
“I’ll gotta watch the replay again. She looked like she was travelling well with four hundred to go and just needed a bit of room.”
“So she might have enough toe to be in a high pressure two year old race.”
Even though Clifton Red was sent out at the good odds of $26, Hayes said that the filly had always shown ability but her race debut had been postponed because of shin soreness.
“She went shinny. Always had ability,” Hayes said.
“I had a little bet each way actually. She trialled very well up the straight and against Wilderness.”
“And when Wilderness trialled so well I thought gee it might be a good trial.”
Stephen Baster settled Clifton Red back in the pack up the middle of the Flemington straight and just as Ygritte ($2.45 favourite) skipped clear for Vlad Duric at the 200m and looked the winner, Clifton Red stretched out to score a long neck win over the favourite with Tahlia ($5) with Glen Boss a further two and a quarter lengths away in third spot.