Lake Geneva is currently available at 2015 Golden Slipper odds of $18, but co-trainer Michael Hawkes believes that the talented filly is a genuine winning chance in the Group 1 event at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Lake Geneva made her racing debut with a luckless second behind Fireworks in the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on January 31 and had no luck in running again before he hit the line strongly to finish third in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 28.
Hawkes told Racing Ahead that he has always had a high opinion of Lake Geneva and he could not be happier with the Fastnet Rock filly heading into the 2015 Golden Slipper this weekend.
“I have loved her from day one and she has done everything right,” Hawkes said.
“Up here in Sydney she drew that bad marble and still ran second three wide and obviously going to Melbourne she drew a bad marble there and was five wide and had to get back.
“I truly believe that if she had drawn two good barriers you might be seeing a different result next to her name and if that is the case she would be up there as one of the favourites.
“She is going to be right behind the speed and she is a lovely filly.
“At the odds she is, she will be a great chance.
“She is not without a good chance in our opinion.”
Lake Geneva has only had two race starts, but she has done plenty of travelling between the Sydney and Melbourne bases of Team Hawkes.
Hawkes said that Lake Geneva had taken no ill effects from her trips to and from Melbourne for the Blue Diamond Stakes and believes that the two-year-old actually thrived during the stint away from her regular stable in Sydney.
“Obviously she has been to Melbourne before and that is why we sent her down late,” Hawkes said.
“Wayne (Hawkes) got to see her again for a second time and he was thrilled with how she looked and even coming back to Sydney this time she has just thrived.
“The trip has done her the world of good.
“She worked extremely well here yesterday and she just excels.”
Vancouver is currently available at 2015 Golden Slipper odds of $3 and remains a clear favourite from Exosphere ($4) and Team Hawkes other Golden Slipper hopeful Headwater.