Vancouver heads Golden Slipper betting

As Vancouver shot to the top of the Golden Slipper betting with his electrifying win in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last Saturday, winning rider Tommy Berry declared that the colt would win the two year old Triple Crown.

The Gai Waterhouse trained Vancouver is the new favourite for the Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Gai Waterhouse trained Vancouver is the new favourite for the Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Berry had Vancouver stalking the leader in the early stages of the Todman Stakes before the Medaglia D’Oro colt exploded away in the straight to score a three and a quarter lengths win in the Todman Stakes over Furnaces and Headwater.

The young jockey won the 2013 Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill with the Gai Waterhouse trained Overreach and the jockey – trainer combination have a great chance to win it again in a fortnight.

“I was confident Overreach would win the Golden Slipper two years ago but it is different with this colt — I’m more confident Vancouver will win the triple crown, not just the Golden Slipper,’’ Berry said.

Vancouver has been elevated to the top of the market order for the Golden Slipper and is now the $3 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au.

The John O’Shea trained Exosphere remains high in contention at $4.60 following his win in the Group 2 $175,000 Pro-Ride Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 28 while Headwater, who was at the top of the market order last week, has slipped down to the third line of betting at $10.

Waterhouse’s filly English has also risen up the market order and is now a $12 chance following her win in the Group 2 $300,000 Guinness Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last Saturday.

Berry has no worries that Vancouver will be even better as he steps up in distance and believes he can win the two year old Triple Crown, the Golden Slipper, the Group 1 $1m ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 4 and the Group 1 $400,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 18.

“He lets down very well. He gets to the front, has a look around and then goes on with it again,” Berry said.

Waterhouse has prepared the winner for the Triple Crown twice before with Dance Hero with Chris Munce and Glen Boss sharing the honours in 2004 while in 2012 Nash Rawiller steered Pierro to his three victories.

Vancouver’ win in the Todman Stakes took his race record to three wins from three starts and lifted his prizemoney earnings to $332,500.

The explosive colt won on debut when he took out the Listed $100,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick in October and was then brought back in the Autumn to win the Group 3 $150,000 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on January 31.

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.