Market mover Voilier has the ability to cause an upset in the Group 2 $250,000 Blackwoods Uvex Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday according to his trainer Gary Nickson.
Voilier could be the knockout horse in the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Like all the two year olds in the Silver Slipper Stakes, the Warwick Farm trained Voilier has already visited the winner’s circle with a victory in the $85,000 Sire Custodians 2yo Plate (1100m) at Rosehill on December 6 at his only race start.
Nickson is spruiking the chances of his youngster and punters have taken heed with the Beneteau gelding’s price tumbling from an opening quote of $12 to a current price of $8.
“We have the forgot horse,’’ Nickson told The Daily Telegraph.
“But I don’t mind that because I know how good Voilier is — and I think he can win.’’
Jockey Tye Angland was aboard Voilier when he won at Rosehill and secured the ride in the Sliver Slipper Stakes after partnering him to an impressive barrier trial win over 803m at Warwick Farm on February 9.
“I asked Tye before the trial who he was riding in the Silver Slipper and he told me he was considering four or five offers,’’ Nickson said.
“Then after the trial, Tye jumped off the horse and said I know which horse I’ll be riding in that race and it will be this bloke.’’
Voilier ran smart time in winning his trial and Nickson has reported that the gelding has recovered in fine fettle.
“Voilier is a very laid-back horse, he only does as much as you want him do to,’’ Nickson said.
“But he is an amazing horse in so many ways. He is the best ‘doer’ I’ve ever trained. After a hard gallop or trial, he never leaves an oat.
“We had him gelded when he was being broken-in and he is the quietest two-year-old you would ever find — he is more like a 10-year-old gelding.’’
The field for the Silver Slipper Stakes has been reduced to seven runners with the scratching of the John O’Shea trained Holler but the Godolphin stable will still be represented by the $2.40 favourite Ottoman.
Ottoman is currently $7 equal favourite for the Golden Slipper with the Gai Waterhouse trained Vancouver and an impressive win on Saturday could see the Exceed And Excel filly jump to outright favourite for the world’s richest two year old race.
Ottoman is the winner of her only race start over 1100m at Rosehill on December 20 as is the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Paceman who won over the same course and distance on November 15.
Paceman is marked as a $3.60 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au just behind Headwater ($3) who was also a winner on debut over 1000m at Moonee Valley on December 27.
The remaining market order has Queensland youngster Mishani Honcho at $26, Snitzel’s Goddess at $81 and Alart at $151.
