One of the biggest days on the Australian racing calendar has almost arrived with five Group 1s headlining a stacked program on Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill.
Further south, the William Reid Stakes makes up a bumper 11-race card at Moonee Valley, while there’s no shortage of black-type action happening across the ditch with the running of the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham.
Back for another week, Rebecca Hill, Craig Sheppard, and Ryan Cook offer their best Slipper bets, a roughie, and even a multi ahead of another huge Saturday of racing.
Rebecca Hill
- Saturday’s Best Bet: Rosehill Race 4 – No. 3 Autumn Glow
Autumn Glow returns to the races. The talented filly took all before in her first campaign, scoring a dominant win on debut in a 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap before taking the step to stakes grade, with decisive wins in both the Group Three Up and Coming Stakes and Group Two Tea Rose Stakes.
She lines up here off three pleasing trials, where she’s worked through the line under very little pressure and she draws to get all the favours under James McDonald.
- Lay of the Day: Eagle Farm Race 3 – No. 4 Winsome Star
I’m looking to Eagle Farm for my lay of the day and it’s Winsome Star, the current favourite in race 3.
Whilst he is consistent and he has performed well in some stronger races, he always seems to find one better and I think that’ll be the case once again.
- Best Roughie: Eagle Farm Race 3 – No. 9 Glowlight
Also looking to Brisbane for my best roughie and she’s in the same race as Winsome Star.
Another that always runs a nice race but has only had the one win but I think she’s top each way chance at a big price.
Currently sitting at $34 for the win, Glowlight had no luck at all when resuming over 1200m at Sunshine Coast and charged home late into second.
She wouldn’t have won but the margin should have been a lot less.
The rise to 1400 will suit, she strips fitter and gets a senior rider back aboard.
- Slipper Best Bet – No. 13 Tempted
It’s a very open Golden Slipper field this year and I’m sticking with Tempted.
She comes off a deserved last start victory in the Reisling Stakes following two luckless runs.
She settled back last time and although she was wide she sprinted strongly late to score.
The inside draw can see her settle within striking distance and Blake Shinn knows what it takes to win this race.
- William Reid Best Bet – No. 5 Benedetta
This year’s William Reid Stakes is such a tricky race, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see any of them win but I’m going with Benedetta.
She was very good first up in the Lightning, in the inferior part of the track it was a top effort to finish third and last start, in the Newmarket, it was just a horror show.
Taken back to last she then found dead ends and was lucky to stay on her feet.
Daniel Stackhouse jumps back aboard, she’s suited under the weight for age conditions and the draw looks ideal for her.
- Omen of the Day – Rosehill Race 4 – No. 3 Autumn Glow
I’m doubling up and throwing in Autumn Glow for this one too.
She was set to start a short fight favourite in the Flight Stakes in the Spring but suffered a setback and was sent to the paddock.
She returns here to kick off her Autumn Carnival and I think it’ll be her time to glow!
My best SRM for Saturday is in the Group 1 George Ryder.
Ceolwulf Top 2, Fangirl Top 3 and Tom Kitten Top 4.
Craig Sheppard
- Saturday’s Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 8 No. 8 Ouroboros
Ouroboros impressed in his first start for Matt Hoysted after previously racing in Victoria.
The son of Harry Angel controlled proceedings in front before drawing away to win over 1000m here by 1.5 lengths.
He rises in class, but he did finish a nose second in the G3 Vain Stakes earlier in his career.
He was a year between runs so will have come on big time and over 1200m Boris Thornton should be able to dictate the race.
- Lay of the Day – Eagle Farm Race 3 No. 4 Winsome Star
I have to agree with Bec here and take a set against Winsome Star.
I’ll probably lose a mate over this as a good friend of mine is in the ownership group!
However, I can’t deny the fact that this guy has won just once in 18 starts, he looks well placed dropping in class but he always finds one better.
- Best Roughie – The Valley Race 10 No. 2 Double Market
Double Market resumes here on the back of two jump outs.
She won on debut last preparation before winning the G2 Fillies Classic here second-up and her only defeat came in the G1 Thousand Guineas when she was posted wide throughout.
While the wide draw is far from ideal, there looks to be good speed in the race which will help her run on.
Seems over the odds at $20 and is worth an each way play.
- Slipper Best Bet – Rosehill Race 8 No. 8 Skyhook
Skyhook has built nicely through this preparation and can continue that hot form into the Golden Slipper.
The Written Tycoon colt was desperately unlucky not to win the Skyline Stakes two starts ago.
He was full of running but was blocked for a run with a furlong to go and had to go back to the fence and despite yet another unclear passage, surged late to finish a head second.
Kerrin McEvoy took luck out of the equation last start in the Pago Pago Stakes by going straight to the front and running his rivals into the ground for a 3.2 length win.
He’s rock hard fit and maps to enjoy a nice run in the first two or three pairs.
- William Reid Best Bet – The Valley Race 9 No. 1 Jimmysstar
Jimmysstar returned in magnificent order last start in the G1 Oakleigh Plate.
He settled back after drawing the car park before unleashing a devastating turn of foot to blast past his rivals, many he meets here, for a 1.7 length win.
He’s since had a jump out where he produced a terrific piece of work.
His second-up record is excellent with his only loss in three starts being a half-length second where he raced upside down.
- Omen of the Day – The Valley Race 3 No. 13 Top Calibre
With the best of the best two-year-olds taking part in the Golden Slipper, one could say it’s a Top Calibre field.
Are you serious, Sheppy….that’s terrible.
Anyway, this guy was unlucky not to win last start and can bounce back here and keep his unbeaten second-up record intact.
It seems rude not to have a Same Race Multi in the Golden Slipper. These three top chances will return you around $7-$8 if successful.
Beware the great man Chris Waller hitting back with Wodeton.
Top 4 – No. 7 Skyhook, Top 4 – No. 8 Wodeton, Top 4 – No. 13 Tempted
Ryan Cook
- Saturday’s Best Bet: The Valley Race 6 – No. 2 Shanwah
Last start Autumn Stakes winner Shanwah returns from a three-week break with big claims as the favourite in the Alister Clark.
Her blistering turn of foot was on full display last time out down the outside, and she should be suited by slightly soft conditions on Saturday out past 2000m.
- Lay of the Day: The Valley Race 2 – No. 1 Chergui
This guy showed real improvement to get up and run third in The Showdown last week, but this is a big ask on a quick backup over 1200m on an unfamiliar track.
Prestige Forever has been well-backed ($6.00 into $3.80 since markets opened) so that tells you how close this race really is.
- Best Roughie: The Valley Race 7 – No. 6 Phenom
I loved the way this filly found the line at Sandown last start to fend off a late challenge from recent VOVIS Guineas runner-up, Athanatos.
I thought she was doing her best work over her final few strides, so if Beau Mertens can take a page out of Blake Shinn’s book and get back off the speed, she should be finishing just as strongly over the top.
- Slipper Best Bet – No. 12 Within The Law
Bit of a throw at the stumps in the form of Within The Law, who really hasn’t done much wrong other than run second in the Inglis Millennium – if you can count that.
Drawing barrier 13 hurts her chances, but she’ll appreciate a genuine tempo if she lands up on the speed nice and early.
- William Reid Best Bet – No. 4 Schwarz
I’m in the corner of Schwarz, who represents good each-way value back from a brief hiatus.
The 1400m in the C.F. Orr was clearly a step too far last time out, but gee his recent trials down in Sydney have been strong.
Back over 1200m and a winner of the Australia Stakes here at The Valley, I think this sets up nicely for him.
- Omen of the Day: Trentham Race 6 – No. 3 My Lips Are Sealed
Did you know it’s International Day of the Seal on Saturday? Of course, you did.
The aptly named My Lips Are Sealed goes around across the ditch in the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes following a last-start effort for third behind Legarto in the Champagne Stakes.
Her late splits suggest she’ll be hard to beat here.
- SRM – Trentham Race 8 (New Zealand Oaks)
No. 1 Leica Lucy (Win), No. 3 Connello (Top 4), No. 4 Myakkabelle (Top 4)