Rosehill Gardens will host Australia’s biggest day of Group 1 racing on Saturday in a huge celebration on Longines Golden Slipper Day.
With four other Group 1 races on the program in addition to the Longines Golden Slipper, it is truly a day of world-class racing.
Gai Waterhouse and Criquette Head-Maarek (photo: Scott Fletcher)
Gai Waterhouse used a historical precedent to talk up the chances of Red Resistance and declared stablemate Platinum Jubilee the forgotten horse in the A$5m Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The Hall of Fame trainer maintains both her two-year-olds are “massive chances” as she attempts a record eighth win in the world’s richest juvenile race.
Even the all-important Golden Slipper barrier draw held on Tuesday morning didn’t only dampen Waterhouse’s trademark confidence in the build-up to the big race.
Red Resistance drew the outside barrier in the 16-horse field and eased in TAB betting from $9 to $11 while was $9 and Platinum Jubilee will start out of gate 11 and remained at $21.
Godolphin’s brilliant colt Cylinder firmed from $4 to $3.50 Golden Slipper favouritism after drawing idlealy in barrier three while Annabel Neasham’s filly Learning To Fly, the only unbeaten horse in the race, also drew perfectly in barrier four and is into $6 (from $7).
But Waterhouse has never worried too much about barriers and she has prepared a Golden Slipper winner out of barrier 16 with Vancouver in 2015.
Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, also hasn’t been deterred by Red Resistance last start second to Cylinder in the Todman Stakes, her colt’s first defeat in three starts.
Red Resistance will jump from the widest barrier in the Golden Slipper. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images
“You only have to go back to Star Watch (1988) to know they can bounce back,” Waterhouse said.
“The same thing happened when Zeditave beat him in their final Golden Slipper lead-up race.
“But then Star Watch then came out and own the Golden Slipper at 6/1. People have short memories.”
Red Resistance had won his two previous starts, both at Rosehill including the Canonbury Stakes where he was too fast for King’s Gambit and Shinzo.
“This colt’s best asset is his natural speed,” Waterhouse said.
“I don’t think the jockey used his speed enough the other day so consequently it advantaged the other horse too much but there will be no excuses on Saturday. He’s at the top of his game.”
Platinum Jubilee also goes into the Golden Slipper after being run down by Cylinder in the Silver Slipper a month ago.
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained filly has recorded three successive second placings including the Magic Millions 2YO Classic since her debut win in the Gimcrack Stakes last spring.
“I think Platinum Jubilee is totally the forgotten horse in the race,” Waterhouse said.
“What has she done wrong? She has had the perfect preparation for the Golden Slipper, she is absolutely thriving.
“I can’t fault her, gosh she is a good filly.”
The Golden Slipper is regarded as one of the most open in years.
Waterhouse wasn’t at the Golden Slipper barrier draw on Tuesday as she was at The Valley to watch Alligator Blood go through his paces ahead of the $5m All-Star Mile (1600m).
“Alligator Blood is a very good horse,” Waterhouse enthused.
“Blake Shinn said he reminds him of Desert War, good, tough, talented, honest – they just can’t catch him. I will be there on Saturday to lead Alligator Blood in if he wins.”
- www.racenet.com.au
