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This Saturday sees the 56th running of the world's richest juvenile event, the $3.5m Group 1 AAMI Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill.
Photo by Racing and Sports
As competitive as the Golden Slipper usually is, every now and then it throws up a year when one juvenile stands well above the rest. This year looks to be one of those years with Samaready set to complete the Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper Group 1 double in emphatic fashion.
Currently at $2.50 with TAB Sportsbet fixed odds, the Mick Price-trained Samaready was brilliant winning the Blue Diamond Stakes just over a month ago. She found a little trouble early in the race and was forced to settle back further that she normally would but still managed to storm to the lead in the straight to post a three length win.
Since arriving in Sydney with regular jockey Craig Newitt, Samaready has shown the harbour city just how it is done. In the Group 2 Reisling Slipper Stakes Samaready handled clockwise racing with aplomb.
Samaready is by More Than Ready out of the Secret Savings mare Samar. More Than Ready has already sired two Golden Slipper winners in Sebring (2008) and Phelan Ready (2009). That fact is just another tick for Samaready who looks amazingly tough to beat.
Looking to topple the superstar filly is racings first lady, Gai Waterhouse and her team of five runners. Waterhouse has won the Golden Slipper on three occasions – with Ha Ha, Dance Hero and Sebring - and is on a solid chance to add another.
Unbeaten Pierro is clearly Waterhouse's main chance and at $5.50 with TAB Sportsbet, punters seem to agree but there is a slight concern. After his win in the Group 2 Todman Stakes Waterhouse said he was pretty much at his peak. If that is the case it must be a concern but Nash Rawiller has been enthusiastic about his chances.
Waterhouse's other runners, Magic Millions winner Driefontein ($17), Blue Diamond runner-up No Looking Back ($10), and Canonbury Stakes winner Raceway ($13) all have some hope.
Another chance at odds is Team Darley's second stringer Narcissus who will be ridden by Peter Robl. Currently at $35 with TAB Sportsbet, Narcissus is still a maiden after three good placings but there was plenty to like about his one length second behind All Too Hard in the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes.
All Too Hard was equal favourite for the Golden Slipper before connections chose to aim for the Sires Produce and Champagne Stakes so Narcissus effort to run second in the event should stand up well, all things considered.
Peter Snowden's first stringer, Epaulette ($9), headed Pierro in his last start only to have that galloper fight back and get his nose in front in the shadows of the post. A similar forward showing would not surprise but it would also not surprise to see stablemate Narcissus finish in front of him.