Valentia the forgotten Golden Slipper runner

The forgotten Golden Slipper runner Valentia is the best of Gai Waterhouse’s two runners to give her a chance of winning back to back wins in the world’s richest race for two year olds at Rosehill on Saturday.

Valentia and Tommy Berry combine to win the Skyline Stakes.

Valentia and Tommy Berry combine to win the Skyline Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.

Waterhouse will saddle up two runners, Valentia and Law,  in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) as she tries to emulate her legendary father Tommy Smith and win it for the sixth time as well as her third in successive years.

The leading Randwick trainer collected the winning trophy with champion two year old Pierro in the 2012 and followed that with a victory last year when Exceed And Excel filly Overreach won with Tommy Berry in the saddle.

Racing’s leading lady’s other Golden Slipper winners were Ha Ha in 2001, Dance Hero in 2004 and Sebring in 2008.

Berry will also be looking for back to back Golden Slipper wins on Valentia and Waterhouse says that the Fastnet Rock colt is going into Saturday’s contest in top order.

“Super, absolutely super,” Waterhouse told TVN after track work on Wednesday.

“Valentia has done everything right.”

“He has ticked every box, I can’t be happier with him, he is a really special horse.”

Valentia has won two from three race starts and looked in total control with Berry steering him to a comfortable half length win in the Group 2 $175,000  Hyland Race Colours Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 15.

Berry was also aboard when the colt won his previous start over 1200m at Randwick on February 22 while Hugh Bowman was the pilot when Valentia made his debut for a third behind Gerald Ryan’s smart two year old Rubick over 1000m at Randwick on January 25.

Berry was able to settle Valentia behind the leaders in the Skyline Stakes and he will be able to give him a similar run in the Golden Slipper after drawing favourably at gate four.

Valentia is currently rated a $26 for the Golden Slipper with Ladbrokes.com.au while stablemate Law is one of the roughies in the field at $71.

Waterhouse expects Law, with Tim Clark aboard, to go forward from his good gate at seven and also said that the Denman colt will go into Saturday’s race in top order.

“I watched Law canter around this morning, he’s a horse that will probably go forward in the race,” Waterhouse said.

“Remember he is a Breeders’ Plate winner, his fourth in the Silver Slipper was most creditable, and he has freshened up nicely since.”

Law has also won two of his three race starts and scored on debut taking out the Listed $100,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick in October.

Waterhouse then produced the colt to win over 1000m at Randwick on February 8 before running fourth to Mossfun in the Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on March 1.

The Peter Snowden trained Earthquake is holding her place at the top of the Golden Slipper betting and is currently the $2.40 favourite ahead of the Team Hawkes trained Mossfun at $5.

Earthquake’s stablemate Dhibellines is next in the betting at $11 just ahead of last Saturday’s Magic Night Stakes winner Bring Me The Maid at $13, the Mick Price trained Cornrow at $15 and Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Unencumbered at $16.

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.