The James Cummings trained Godolphin juveniles Tassort and Exhilarates are the top two in the early betting for the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 23.

Tassort, above, is the early favourite for the 2019 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Tassort, above, is the early favourite for the 2019 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Ladbrokes.com.au installed Tassort as the $5 favourite following his impressive five and a quarter lengths debut win in the $150,000 Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill on November 24 while Exhilarates found herself on the second line of betting at $10 after her come from behind win in last Saturday’s $2m The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.

Godolphin Australia manger Vin Cox was quick to nominate the Golden Slipper as Exhilarates main 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival goal after she flashed down the middle of the track to beat Melbourne colt Dubious and the Peter And Paul Snowden trained Hightail.

“The natural path is the Golden Slipper so we will see how she is going after the short break and make a call after that,” Cox told The Courier-Mail.

Tassort has only been to the races once while Exhilarates’ win in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic was her second victory from five race starts.

On the third line of betting at $15 is the Team Snowden trained Catch Me and Gary Portelli’s unbeaten colt Time To Reign.

Catch Me showed off her early two year old credentials with a debut win in the Group 3 $160,000 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick in September while Time To Reign is the winner of both his race starts in a 1000m two year old Plate at Randwick on October 20 and in an 1100m two year old Handicap at Rosehill on November 3.

Catch Me’s stablemate Anaheed is next in the Golden Slipper betting at $16 while Magic Millions 2yo Classic runner up Dubious is marked at $17.

Early betting for the 2019 Golden Slipper at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Tassort, $10 Exhilarates, $15 Catch Me, Time To Reign, $16 Ana Heed, $17 Dubious, $21 Brooklyn Hustle, Just Zerene, Unite And Conquer, $26 Cardiff, Covert Ops, Espaaniyah, Hightail, Mclaren, Microphone, Steal The Kisses, Yes Yes Yes, $31 Aquitaine, Rome, Spaceboy, Vinicunca, $34 or better the rest.

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.