Connections of two year olds Fireworks, Single Gaze and Odyssey Moon have all paid the $150,000 late entry fee to gain a start in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) to be run at Rosehill on Saturday.
Fireworks, above, is one of three late entries for the Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Gerald Ryan trained Fireworks scored a narrow win two starts back in the Group 3 $150,000 Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on January 31 before running third to the Gai Waterhouse top Golden Slipper hope English in the Group 2 $300,000 Guinness Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 7.
Odyssey Moon has been placed at his last two starts and made up ground in the straight when four lengths second to Exosphere in the Group 2 $175,000 Pro-Ride Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 28.
The Rodney Northam trained colt then finished closer to the first two when one length third behind Tarquin and Rageese in the Group 2 $175,000 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
Single Gaze is coming off a second to Takedown in the Group 3 $275,000 Seppelt Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on March 8 and trainer Nick Olive and the rest of the connections were so impressed that they are willing to give the Not A Single Doubt filly her chance in the richest two year race in the world.
“We were high enough in order, she ran unbelievably well in the Black Opal, has come through that run in great order, so the owners decided why not have a go?” Olive told Racenet.
Waterhouse has decided to back up Speak Fondly after she won the Group 2 $175,000 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last Saturday and the Northern Meteor filly will be ridden by big race jockey Damien Oliver.
The inclusion of Speak Fondly in the field will give Waterhouse four Golden Slipper runners, the others are favourite Vancouver, English and Flamboyant Lass.
Waterhouse is chasing her sixth Golden Slipper trophy which would equal her legendary father Tommy Smith’s record after wins with Ha Ha (2001), Dance Hero (2004), Sebring (2008), Pierro (2012) and Overreach (2013).
Trainer John O’Shea will also saddle up four runners for Godolphin and as well as having the second favourite Exosphere – Haptic, Ottoman and Furnaces will carrier the royal blue silks with different coloured caps.
Latest Golden Slipper market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.80 Vancouver, $4.60 Exosphere, $10 Headwater, $11 Ready For Victory, $13 English, Furnaces, $15 Lake Geneva, $17 Haptic, Speak Fondly, $26 Fireworks, Ottoman, Reemah, Single Gaze $51 Haybah, Odyssey Moon $67 Flamboyant Lass, $81 Serenade, $101 Look To The Stars.
