Vancouver to head to Todman Stakes

Gai Waterhouse’s undefeated two year old Vancouver will have his final Golden Slipper hit out in the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 7.

Vancouver will have his final Golden Slipper hit out in the Todman Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Vancouver was scheduled to run on Saturday in the Group 2 $250,000 Blackwoods Uvex Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill but a change of plans will see the Medaglia D’Oro colt barrier trial on Monday at Randwick.

“He’ll now have a barrier trial at Randwick on Monday,” Tulloch Lodge spokesman Mark Newnham told AAP.

Vancouver is currently the $7 equal favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21 but a dominant performance by a number of two year olds going around in the Silver Slipper Stakes could see the Waterhouse colt lose that top spot.

The other Golden Slipper equal favourite Ottoman gets her chance to push clear of Vancouver in the market order while Headwater, Paceman and Holler will all have their opportunity to boost their chances for the richest two year old race in the world.

Vancouver has raced twice for a debut win in October taking out the Listed $100,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick and then resumed in the Autumn to win the Group 3 $150,000 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on January 31.

Waterhouse decided to give the colt an extra two weeks to get over that run and will now head to the Golden Slipper with only one more outing in the Todman Stakes.

“The Golden Slipper is still a month away and as Gai said to me ‘it’s all about the timing’ and that’s why she thinks the Todman Stakes is a better fit,” Newham said.

The John O’Shea trained Ottoman has only been to the races once for a win over 1100m at Rosehill on December 20 and has been installed the $2.40 favourite for the Silver Slipper Stakes ahead of Headwater at $3.80, Paceman at $4  and Holler at $6.

Headwater, from the Hawkes Racing Team stable, was also impressive at his only race appearances with a win over 1000m at Moonee Valley on December 27 while the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Paceman also made a winning debut over 1100m at Rosehill on November 15.

Ottoman’s stablemate Holler also recorded a win at his only start on January 17 over 1100m at Rosehill.

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.