The Golden Slipper meeting will be held at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 7 on Thursday and with overcast weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Rosehill will remain in the Soft range on raceday.
Melburnian visitor Gailo Chop will have conditions to suit in the Ranvet Stakes (Sydney Race 4, 2000m). The 7YO has been in terrific form this Autumn winning the Carlyon Cup and Peter Young Stakes before a close 2nd in the Australian Cup last start. The gelding has a good record over 2000m having won 6 times with a 2nd placing from 8 attempts at the trip, and he is formidable in wet condition having won 6 times from 8 starts on rain-affected tracks. Nicely drawn in barrier 4, Mark Zahra will sit just behind likely leader The Taj Mahal and Gailo Chop will be hard to catch in the run home.
In the Rosehill Guineas, Ace High seems to have the best lead-up form in the race but unfortunately, he doesn’t have any wet track form to support his claim (Sydney Race 6, 2000m). That prompt me to go for the Waller-trained D’Argento instead. The So You Think 3YO is a winner having won 3 races with a placing from 5 career starts. He can also handle any track conditions. Stepping up to 2000m 4th up should suit. Champion hoop Hugh Bowman will return for the ride on D’Argento. With a fast pace in the Guineas, Bowman will settle back in the field from barrier 9 and watch D’Argento charging home in the straight.
Written By is a natural 2YO who is both precocious and tenacious and is an ideal candidate for the Group 1 Longines Golden Slipper (Sydney Race 7, 1200m). The unbeaten colt threw down the gauntlet for the Golden Slipper by taking out the Blue Diamond Stakes and the traditional lead-up race, the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) last Saturday. Written By has pretty much ticked all the boxes having won on Heavy track on debut, won at Rosehill over 1200m, and loves a fight in a tight finish. Drawn beautifully in barrier 4, regular rider Jordan Childs can settle just behind a hot pace and bide his time. Written By will be full of running in the straight and he is set to replicate Sepoy’s effort in 2011 in completing the Blue Diamond/Golden Slipper double.
By Owens Wong, Editor
