The barrier draw for the 2013 Tooheys New Golden Slipper has been conducted with mixed fortunes the order of the day.
A total of 18 acceptances were received for the world's richest two-year-old race.
A field of 16 plus two emergencies was declared with 12 colts and geldings and 6 fillies in line for the major share of the $3.5 million in prizemoney.
OVERREACH - WIDDEN STAKES WIN
OVERREACH - REISLING SLIPPER TRIAL Gr2 WIN
Pronounced favourite Overreach is sure to firm further in her price to hand trainer Gai Waterhouse with her fifth Golden Slipper win after drawing to perfection with the rails gate.
The favourite Overreach drew barrier one before a couple of her nearest rivals in betting, Ruud Awakening and Villa Verde, drew 18 and 17 respectively.
This saw an immediate tightening of the filly’s price.
The Golden Slipper barrier draw is arguably the most important barrier draw of all races in Australia so it’s important to look at the major facts:
Since the race was first run in 1957:
The most successful barrier with 8 Wins = Barrier 1 - Overreach has this barrier
Last year's winning barrier = Barrier 1 - Pierro – Overreach has this barrier.
The flying Exceed And Excel filly Overreach was the big winner with the barriers coming up trumps with the inside alley significantly boosting her chances of scoring a third straight win after emphatic victories in both the Widden and Reisling Stakes.
“She’s got very good gate speed so we’ll be able to put her up there on the pace,” jockey Tommy Berry said after the draw.
“She’s pretty much jumped a length, a half length to a length in front both times (recently).
“She’s very professional and will definitely be right up there.”
Waterhouse had plenty of luck with the Golden Slipper gates also drawing barrier four for Sweet Idea who will be one of the main dangers.
After a Magic Millions Classic second on the Gold Coast in January Sweet Idea won the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) in the wet at Rosehill and jockey Jim Cassidy rates her a strong chance again this weekend.
“Takes the pressure off me,” Cassidy said of the nice barrier.
“She’s done great. She trialled very good a fortnight ago and has continued to improve.
“If I give her a nice ride and follow Tommy …….I think I’m on a knock out.
“She’s had pretty much the same program as (2001 Golden Slipper winner) Ha Ha did coming through the Magic Millions.
“Itt’s great to be on the second or third chance and you’ve got to be in it to win it.”
Waterhouse’s third chance Whittington a son of Tale Of The Cat came up with barrier 10.
The other top Golden Slipper betting fancy Criterion also enhanced its chances of success on Saturday with an ideal barrier two draw, David Payne’s Sebring colt coming off back-to-back wins.
Second-up they enjoyed a victory in the Black Opal Stakes in Canberra before their good win in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill and will be ridden by Hugh Bowman for the first time in the Golden Slipper.
“This guy came out and won the Todman Stakes which is the main lead-up race certainly for the boys,” Bowman said.
“I can see the fillies do look a bit strong on paper but history says the colts have a better record.
“With barrier two he mightn’t have to be back as far as he has in his last couple of races.
“He’s a leading contender for sure.”
A number of the other horses higher up the markets weren’t so fortunate however including former favourite Villa Verde (17) who was last seen running second to Overreach in the Reisling Stakes, and Group 1 winning Kiwi filly Ruud Awakening (18) who drew the extreme outside barriers.
“We’ve just got to go with it, we’ll need a lot of luck, hopefully a bit of rain around will even it up,” Ruud Awakening’s trainer Steve Marsh said of the awkward gate.
“She’s done nothing wrong to date and she’s very fast out of the barriers…obviously a lot more to cross there but that’s why we pay Craig (Williams) the big money to work it out form there.
“Craig galloped her this morning, she’s going super, I’m confident.”
Also out wide will be the likes of Todman Stakes runner-up Fast ‘N’ Rocking (15) and the Gary Portelli-trained Skyline Stakes winner I’m All The Talk (13) who will be ridden by Brenton Avdulla.
“I’ll be able to get me own space out wide and I won’t be in that hustle and bustle early which is a bonus,” Avdulla said of their gate.
“He’s had a good little break between runs and I expect him to put himself right in there in the race.
“If we can just get across comfortable…he’ll be hard to run down.”
The two Golden Slipper emergencies Havana and Il Cavallo meanwhile drew barrier 11 and 7 meaning any horses wider than that will come in should neither gain a start.
See below for the complete 2013 Tooheys New Golden Slipper field, jockeys, barriers and weights.
Updated Golden Slipper betting is open at bookmaker.com.au so make sure you’re a customer through the Dynamic Syndications promotion with bookmaker.com.au to access the country’s premier horse racing odds this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
2013 Golden Slipper Final Field & Barrier Draw
Rosehill Race 7 – 4:00pm (AEST) – 06/04/2013
# Form (Last 10) Horse Trainer Jockey Br. Wgt.
1 1×311 CRITERION (NZ) David Payne Hugh Bowman 2 56.5kg
2 7×4422 FAST ’N’ ROCKING David Hayes Steven Arnold 15 56.5kg
3 13×216 KUROSHIO Peter Snowden Joshua Parr 16 56.5kg
4 3x2L1 SIDESTEP Peter Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 5 56.5kg
5 31×241 I’M ALL THE TALK Gary Portelli Brenton Avdulla 13 56.5kg
6 1×21 WHITTINGTON Gai Waterhouse Nash Rawiller 10 56.5kg
7 51×32 DOTHRAKI Gerald Ryan Corey Brown 3 56.5kg
8 1×34 CHARLIE BOY Gerald Ryan Glyn Schofield 14 56.5kg
9 0×129 VA PENSIERO Jason Coyle Tim Clark 8 56.5kg
10 2×44 WINDJAMMER Bjorn Baker Peter Robl 12 56.5kg
11 2×11 OVERREACH Gai Waterhouse Tommy Berry 1 54.5kg
12 112111 RUUD AWAKENING Stephen Marsh Craig Williams 18 54.5kg
13 12221 SWEET IDEA Gai Waterhouse Jim Cassidy 4 54.5kg
14 11×2 VILLA VERDE Shaun Dwyer Michael Rodd 17 54.5kg
15 2×119 GUELPH Peter Snowden Christian Reith 9 54.5kg
16 1×81 ROMANTIC MOON John O’Shea James McDonald 6 54.5kg
17e 73 HAVANA Paul Messara - 11 56.5kg
18e 1 IL CAVALLO Peter G Moody - 7 56.5kg