Classy filly Tulip has held her spot at the top of the betting after being confirmed a starter in the $120,000 Johnnie Walker Plate (1200m) at The Valley on Saturday.

Tulip, above, will take her place in the Johnnie Walker Plate at The Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Lindsay Park trained Tulip was also an acceptor in the Group 3 $150,000 TPG Telecom San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday but the Pierro filly won’t be making the trip to Sydney from Euroa, but instead will be heading to Melbourne.

“Tulip will run in Melbourne,” co-trainer David Hayes said.

“Her trial form has been exceptional putting a line through Formality and Catchy. I expect her to race well, she is a winner at the track and I think she will love the distance.”

Tulip sits at the top of the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au at $2.70 for the Johnnie Walker Plate and with Craig Williams in the saddle will now jump from barrier six in the field that has been reduced to seven runners with the scratching of her stablemate Madeenaty who will head to Sydney to run in the San Domenico Stakes.

Tulip is a two time winner from six race starts and earned a start in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 18 with her win in the Group 3 $175,000 Chandon S Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill the week before.

A brave run in the Golden Slipper saw Tulip finish third behind She Will Reign and Frolic in the Golden Slipper before going on to run fifth to Invader in the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires’ (1400m) at Randwick on April 1.

Tulip will be resuming in the Johnnie Walker Plate at The Valley and has the benefit of a recent 1000m barrier trial at Cranbourne when she ran second, sandwiched in between stablemates Formality and Catchy.

Formality resumed for a win in the Group 2 $200,000 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last Saturday while Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy was narrowly beaten first up when second in the Group 3 $150,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last weekend.