Waterhouse’s Strong Slipper Hand

When Gai Waterhouse declared Silver Slipper winner Sweet Idea will be “impossible to beat” in the Golden Slipper, the outgoing trainer raised more than a few eyebrows.

Silver Slipper winner Sweet Idea forms part of Gai Waterhouse's strong Golden Slipper contingent. Photo by: Steve Hart.

While the statement may have been slightly controversial and may not come true, there is no denying that Waterhouse is in the Golden Slipper box seat.

Sweet Idea forms part of a strong contingent from the Waterhouse stable heading towards the Golden Slipper, charged with the task of delivering the Randwick trainer her fifth title in the world’s richest two-year-old race.

“I put a lot of thought and research into my Golden Slipper horses,” Waterhouse said in her blog.

“It is the richest two-year-old race in the entire world and I always try to get as many horses qualified as possible, as early as possible.”

Heading Waterhouse’s brigade for the $3.5 million sprint is current favourite Overreach ($4.60) who sent the hype machine into overdrive when winning the Listed Widden Stakes (1100m) by six lengths last month.

On that day she annihilated her rivals and Waterhouse has sent an ominous warning to her potential Slipper challengers.

“She has continued to improve since her devastating first-up win,” Waterhouse said.

Overreach is one of three Waterhouse-trained runners in the top six in betting, joined by Sweet Idea ($17) and Whittington ($21).

Sweet Idea’s tough Silver Slipper win on a heavy track at Rosehill on Saturday confirmed her status as one of the country’s most advanced juveniles.

The Snitzel filly has won twice and finished second three times from five starts including a fighting runner-up behind Real Surreal in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast last month.

Whittington is the early pick of Waterhouse’s colts, having won the NSW Thoroughbred Breeders’ Plate on debut in October and finished second in the Listed Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill on February 16.

Waterhouse is chasing back-to-back Golden Slippers after Pierro took out the prestigious juvenile sprint on his way to winning the two-year-old triple crown last year.

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