This is an excellent edition of the Darby Munro and there is a case to be made for more than half of the twelve confirmed starters.
This is a step up in class for Hilo, but he couldn’t have been more impressive when resuming on the Kensington course at Randwick and he looms as a live each-way chance in this. The Lonhro gelding has shown class throughout his short racing career but his first-up performance this time suggested that he is in for a glittering prep this time in.
1 Unit E/W Hilo
Mugatoo is clearly a talented stayer and he can record another win in the NE Manion Cup on Golden Slipper Day. The Henrythenavigator gelding is yet to taste anything but success since arriving in Australia and has only continued to improve with each start and as the bar has been raised, culminating in a dominant win in the Canberra Cup just under a fortnight ago. He can continue his rise through the grades in this race.
5 Units Mugatoo
A strong edition of the Epona Stakes has been confirmed for Saturday and several previous black type winners will be stepping out.
Savacool has improved for two starts this time and is ready to peak third-up. The Savabeel mare ran on fairly but needed the run when fifth in BM88 company at Randwick when resuming and attacked the line to fill the minors of the Group 3 Aspiration Quality a fortnight ago. The rise in trip suits and she is over the odds at a double-figure price ($10 at publish).
2 Units E/W Savacool
Verry Ellegant has returned to the track in top order this time and the Ranvet Stakes looks a perfect Group 1 target for her. A winner of the Group 1 Vinery Stakes at this track and trip last autumn, the Zed mare continued to return high-quality performances in spring, but appears to have gone to another level this time, having finished fourth in the Apollo Stakes first-up and a half-length second to Te Akau Shark last time out. 2000m is her pet trip and she’ll be piloted by jockey James McDonald once again.
4 Units Verry Elleegant
Te Akau Shark is yet to taste anything but success in 2020 and is primed to win the George Ryder. The Rip Van Winkle gelding hasn’t run a bad race in his career and has been rewarded for his consistency this year with consecutive Group 1 wins in the BCD Sprint (New Zealand) and the Chipping Norton Stakes. He’ll only be fitter third-up and with even luck, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
5 Units Te Akau Shark
This is the strongest edition of the Rosehill Guineas in recent memory and like several other races on Golden Slipper Day, there’s a case to be made for more than half the field.
Kiwi raider Scorpz will relish the soft ground and a return to 2000m and he is over the odds at $13 to win (at publish). The Stephen Marsh-trained colt won a Listed race over 2100m in December and has placed at his three subsequent appearances, including the Group 1 NZ Derby last time out. He’s rock-hard fit and is drawn well on this inside of this field, with Opie Bosson to ride.
2 Units E/W Scorpz
Tagaloa hasn’t run a bad race since debuting and is a winning chance in the Golden Slipper. The Lord Kanaloa colt rturned from a short spell to finish fourth in the colts and gelding Prelude at Caulfield before winning the Group 1 Blue Diamond, and he arrived in Sydney a fortnight ago to finish second in the Todman Stakes. He was settled off the pace last time out and did his best work late but will be able to go forward from barrier 6 in the Golden Slipper, bowl along and get going at the bend. He’ll be hard to run down, with even luck.
See You Soon is clearly a filly of ability and could prove the value in Golden Slipper betting at her current price ($15 at publish). The daughter of Siyouni is yet to finish worse than second in three career starts and tuned up for this race with a good performance in the Reisling Stakes.
2 Units Tagaloa
1 Unit E/W See You Soon
Pierata hasn’t been seen at the races in 2020, but he is the class horse of a strong The Galaxy field and he’ll be hard to beat. The Pierro entire has clearly been one of the country’s best sprinters for several seasons now and was typically excellent in spring, winning both the Shorts and the Redzel Stakes and finishing fifth in The Everest. He’s had the benefit of a couple of trials leading into this race and is ready to go.
2 Units Pierata
This is an extremely difficult way to end Golden Slipper Day from a betting perspective and when the market went up on Wednesday, we were faced with $7 the field.
The Les Bridge-trained Seasons has produced some typically competitive performances this time and I’ll be happy to have something on each-way at around the $13 mark. Seasons has had one previous start on heavy for a win, as well as a win and a place from four starts on soft. She finished three lengths from the winner in the Group 3 Wenona Girl a fortnight ago and will improve for that effort.
0.5 Units E/W Seasons