Vancouver heads to the paddock, to be set for the Golden Rose

Golden Slipper winner Vancouver will be sent straight to the spelling paddock before being prepared for the Spring Carnival which will include a start in the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill in September.

Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, above, will be sent to the paddock before being prepared for the Spring Carnival. Photo by Steve Hart.

Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, above, will be sent to the paddock before being prepared for the Spring Carnival. Photo by Steve Hart.

Vancouver was able to overcome the outside barrier in the sixteen horse field to win the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last Saturday, giving trainer Gai Waterhouse her sixth win in the world’s richest two year old race.

Waterhouse’s previous Golden Slipper winners were with Ha Ha (2001), Dance Hero (2004), Sebring (2008), Pierro (2012) and Overreach (2013)

Jockey Tommy Berry was able to slot Vancouver into a midfield position from the wide gate before pulling him to the outside in the straight to win his second Golden Slipper for Waterhouse after the jockey-trainer combination teamed up to win with Overreach two years ago.

Berry had been talking up the chances of Vancouver going on to win the Triple Crown for two year olds during the Sydney Autumn Carnival and line up in the Group 1 $1m ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at on April 4 and the Group 1 $400,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m) on April 18, both at Randwick.

But Waterhouse was non-committal after the Golden Slipper win on Saturday and announced today that the Medaglia D’Oro colt would be spelled with the rich Spring Carnival his next target.

Stable foreman Mark Newham told Racenet that Vancouver had pulled up in fine order but they would now concentrate on getting ready for the Spring.

“Gai is looking toward the spring and going off her experience with Pierro decided to spell him now,” Newhnam said.

“He came through the run fine and could have gone on but Gai wants enough time to get the spring preparation spot on, and that will be made a lot easier by tipping him out now.”

Vancouver remained undefeated from four race starts and following his Golden Slipper win took his prizemoney earnings to $2,362,000.

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.